NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND
FIND A FESTIVE BACKDROP IN ABERDEENSHIRE AND ANGUS
From frosty landscapes to candlelit castles, National Trust for Scotland places in Aberdeenshire and Angus are offering a host of winter experiences and special events this festive season.
Many of the conservation charity’s places in the region, including Castle Fraser, Crathes Castle, Drum Castle, Garden & Estate, Haddo House, and House of Dun will be open during the winter. Special places cared for by the Trust offer settings packed with character for seasonal escapes.
Christmas events are taking place across the region to get visitors of all ages and interests in the festive spirit, including craft workshops, carol singing, storytelling and opportunities to meet Santa. Take a trip back through 400 years of Christmas history at Castle Fraser, meet both Santa and Mrs Claus at Haddo House, sample a seasonal menu of locally sourced fare at Henrietta’s Tea Room at Leith Hall, Garden & Estate, and much more. Advance booking is encouraged to avoid disappointment.
Visitors can make the most of the season both indoors and outdoors at Trust places. From storytelling events in historic houses to browsing for locally made gifts, there are many ways to get cosy inside Trust places throughout the winter season. Facilities and tours are mostly open for long weekends throughout the season; visitors are encouraged to check nts.org.uk before travelling.
The conservation charity also cares for breath-taking landscapes and havens for nature, which are free to access all year round. Outdoor adventurers in Aberdeenshire and Angus can explore the grounds of Fyvie Castle or Leith Hall before warming up in one of the charity’s snug tearooms.
The National Trust for Scotland cares for, and gives access to, many of the most magnificent buildings, collections and landscapes in Scotland, with the help of its members and supporters. It has welcomed over 680,000 visitors to its places in the northeast this year.
Iain Hawkins, National Trust for Scotland’s Regional Director for the North East region, said: “Our special places in Aberdeenshire and Angus are the ideal backdrop to making festive memories with friends and family at this precious time of year.
“Whether you seek Christmas card-worthy scenes at our beautiful countryside places, guided tours of the historic houses and castles in our care, or the perfect gift for a loved one, you can find it all at Trust places this Christmas.
“Thanks to the ongoing generosity of our members and supporters, we’re able to continue our work to enhance and protect Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage, securing its future for generations to come.”
These winter events provide opportunities for everyone to access and enjoy Trust places throughout the season, with a range of activities for all ages and interests. This helps the Trust to deliver on the engagement objectives outlined in its 10-year strategy, launched in 2022, which set forth a vision to care for, share and protect Scotland’s nature, beauty and heritage for the enjoyment of all.
Visitors to Trust places in Aberdeenshire and Angus can expect an assortment of festive activities, including:
Castle Fraser, Garden & Estate – castle, shop, tearoom, garden and grounds
Discover how Christmas has been celebrated throughout 400 years of Castle Fraser’s history through an exhibition of handcrafted and natural decorations. Take a trip through time with the Christmas Through the Ages castle tours. From January, behind-the-scenes tours only are available (pre-booking is recommended). The castle’s packed festive events programme also includes candlelit tours, carols in the Great Hall, a traditional Christmas decoration-making workshop and a visit from Santa. Children will find festive fun on the Christmas trail inside the castle. Festive treats and seasonal drinks from the tearoom provide cosy respite after a walk in the wintery grounds, while the shop is the answer to Christmas gifting.
Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate – castle tours, café, garden and grounds (play park closed)
Crathes Castle is an impressive 16th-century Scottish tower house surrounded by a stunning woodland estate. Adventure along the seven miles of wildlife trails, step inside to explore the maze of turrets and towers, before stopping off in the dog friendly Café 1702 for a well-earned festive hot drink and cake. Meanwhile, the Wild Tales & Tea exclusive talk programme continues, with insights from the Trust’s expert team on topics such as the history of Crathes’s walled garden (Sunday 23 November) and the history and conservation of the castle’s famous painted ceiling (Saturday 7 February).
Drum Castle, Garden & Estate – castle tours, tearoom and walled garden (play park closed and walled garden opening is weather dependent)
Visit Santa at the historic Drum Castle this winter (Saturday 20 December and Wednesday 24 December) or stroll through the ancient oak trees of the Old Wood of Drum, before being rewarded with a selection of tasty treats and seasonal hot drinks in the tearoom and browsing the shop for the perfect Christmas gifts.
Fyvie Castle – grounds, garden and tearoom (castle and shop closed)
Take a wintery walk with family and friends around the beautiful grounds of Fyvie Castle, an imposing 800-year-old fortress that is a sterling example of Scottish Baronial architecture. As part of the castle’s festive celebrations, meet Santa at Fyvie Castle in the gallery for gifting and the opportunity to participate in some arts and crafts.
Haddo House – house, café, shop and garden
Christmas at Haddo is well underway, after almost 2,000 people attended this year’s Christmas Craft Fair at the start of November. That’s just the beginning. Children and families will be enchanted by an encounter with both Santa and Mrs Claus at Haddo House this December. Discover this magnificent example of a Scottish stately home and enjoy some fun Christmas activities such as wreath making and winter yoga. Admiring Haddo’s rich art collection and hearing fascinating tales of the Gordon family and their illustrious visitors offers some well-earned respite from the hectic festive season.
House of Dun, Garden & Estate – house, shop, café, Angus Folk Museum, formal gardens and estate
Enjoy a wreath making workshop in the Courtyard Bothy or visit Santa’s grotto in this elegant Georgian mansion. Take a tour to hear the costumed guides reveal Jacobite codes hidden in the ornate plasterwork and recount tall tales of life both upstairs and downstairs in this stunning 1740s country estate. Enjoy views over the Montrose Basin while wandering through the enchanting gardens and woodland or learn of the region’s rich agricultural heritage through the Angus Folk Museum.
Leith Hall, Garden & Estate – tearoom, garden and grounds (hall and shop closed)
Marvel at Leith Hall’s glorious estate which includes Scotland’s highest-altitude garden, stunning views of Aberdeenshire and the surrounding hills and several scenic winter walking trails to choose from. For a second year, Henrietta’s Tea Room will remain open through the winter, promising cosy respite with an enticing new locally sourced menu, including afternoon teas and homemade pies with weekly special fillings such as ‘44-hour venison’ and ‘squash, sage and feta’. The green-fingered and crafty can get creative with garland making workshops on Friday 5 December, while ready-made wreaths created by the talented Leith Hall Gardeners will be available for sale on Sunday 7 December.
Further information about place opening times and events can be found on the National Trust for Scotland website. Please note that opening times are subject to change depending on the winter weather. It is advised to check the Trust’s website pages or social media for the latest updates before travelling.
