If you’re planning a trip to see the historical and beautifully constructed castles in Ireland and Scotland, there’s one stop you absolutely must add to your list — Scotland’s Aberdour Castle. Aberdour Castle is known for being among the oldest castles in Scotland, and you can see it by taking one of the many castle tours in Scotland. Here’s what visitors should know about Aberdour Castle, one of the oldest castles in Scotland.
Location
Ireland’s largest city is Dublin with 495,781 residents, but Scotland tourists can find Aberdour Castle in the village of Easter Aberdour, which is in the historic county of Fife. Several parts of the castle are thought to date back to around the year 1200, making the castle one of two when it comes to the oldest castles in Scotland. The other castle is Castle Sween, which was thought to be built around the same time.
Layout/Description
The oldest parts of the castle include a hall house, which is on a site that looks out over the Dour Burn. The hall house was eventually transformed into a tower house in the 15th century, and it was also expanded two more times the century after. The completed structure is full of Renaissance features and details.
The castle also includes a walled garden as well as a series of terraced gardens, which date back to around the middle of the 16th century. It should come as no surprise that these gardens make for some of the oldest in all of Scotland. It’s also worth mentioning that the gardens offer spectacular views of the Firth of Forth, which meets the North Sea with Fife on the north coast.
Late History
After a fire destroyed much of Aberdour Castle, it was repaired minimally but fell yet again into disrepair after a new family purchase. Today, only the wing of the castle that was built in the 17th century has a roof, since the majority of the tower has collapsed. The castle now lies in the care of Historic Scotland, and it’s open year-round to public visitors, tourists, historians, and sightseers alike.
Ultimately, make sure to leave some time for Aberdour Castle when taking castle tours in Scotland. For more information about Scotland vacation packages and tours, contact Hammond Tours.