Kildrummy Castle
These are the ruins of a 13th century stone courtyard castle which was dismantled after the first Jacobite rising in 1715.
The complete layout of domestic buildings is still intact - hall, kitchen and chapel. It has been described as the noblest of Northern castles and a stronghold of the Earls of Mar. Nearby is the Black Den of Kildrummy now converted into an attractive garden and spanned by a modern replica of the mediaeval Brig of Balgownie in Aberdeen.

Cragievar Castle
Grampian's fairy-tale castle which exemplifies the best of Scottish baronial architecture. Built by William Forbes in 1626 and houses a wonderful collection of family portraits and 17th and 18th century furniture. The house today remains much as it did when lived in by the Forbes-Sempill family.

Crathes Castle
A visit to this property is enhanced by the 1.5 ha (3.75 a) of walled garden, which incorporates herbaceous borders and many unusual plants. The garden provides a wonderful display at all times of the year. The great yew hedges, fascinating examples of the art of topiary, date from as early as 1702.

Drum Castle
The keep is one of the three oldest tower houses surviving in Scotland. It was the work of Richard Cementarius, first Provost of Aberdeen and King's Master mason, in the late 13th century. The High Hall of the tower is still in its medieval state. It is accessed by a narrow newel stair, and offers fine views from the battlements. The original house was enlarged with the creation of a very fine Jacobean mansion house in 1619 and a later addition during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Huntly Castle - Huntly
Also known as Strathbogie Castle, this glorious ruin stands on the bank of the River Deveron. It is in itself a history lesson in the development of the Scottish castle from the earliest Norman fortress to the palace of the 17th century.