5 Ways How To Get From Glasgow To Balmoral Castle (Scotland) – 2023

Are you looking for ways how to get from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle in Scotland? The private royal residence opens its doors to visitors at certain times of the year (mostly during wintertime) so it is best to plan your transport there from Glasgow ahead of time.

You can reach Balmoral Castle from Glasgow by train, bus, private transfer, flight, and car. The road distance between Glasgow and Balmoral Castle is 187.6 kilometres or 116.6 miles while its direct distance is 146.45 kilometres or 91 miles. It takes about 2 hours and 52 minutes to travel this distance by car.

The iconic Balmoral Castle awaits! Let’s look at all the available options for you if you’re coming from Glasgow, including where to book tickets for the best deals.

How to get from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle

OPTION 1: How to get from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle by Train

• Travel Duration: about 5 hours and 33 minutes
• Travel Fare: from £32

There is no direct train ride that will bring you from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle. You will have to catch a train first from Glasgow to Aberdeen. ScotRail and LNER operate this service. Here is a sample timetable of their trips:

Train from Glasgow to Aberdeen

	DEPARTURE	ARRIVAL	DURATION	FARE
Earliest trip	5:51 am	8:44 am	2 hours and 53 minutes	£24
Cheapest and fastest trip	11:41 am	2:14 pm	2 hours and 33 minutes	£15
Latest trip	9:40 pm	12:32 am	2 hours and 52 minutes	£34

The train from Glasgow departs from Glasgow Queen Street and arrives at Aberdeen Station. Many schedules are direct while some would require you to transfer once you reach Haymarket or Dundee Station. 

The train ride takes less than 3 hours to complete. Once you reach Aberdeen, you will have to take two buses (for about £17) to reach your final destination. First, you have to ride bus 201 towards Ballater and then 203 towards Braemar. Stagecoach North Scotland will take care of this leg.

Stop at Balmoral Road End and walk for about 0.2 miles for five minutes and you will reach Balmoral Castle. The bus rides will consume at least 3 hours of your time. That makes the total trip to at least 5 hours and 33 minutes.

Consider this option if you do not mind making a lot of transfers, and if you are ok with spending almost 6 hours on the road to reach Balmoral Castle. Book your ticket ahead of time at Omio.

OPTION 2: How to get from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle by Bus

• Travel Duration: about 6 hours and 30 minutes
• Travel Fare: from £30

Another option that you can consider is travelling by bus. Megabus has fleets from Glasgow, Buchanan Station that are going to Aberdeen, Guild Street Station. As you can see, this is not a direct bus trip to Balmoral Castle.

You can book bus tickets in advance via Trainline. Here is what this part of the journey looks like:

Bus from Glasgow to Aberdeen

	DEPARTURE	ARRIVAL	DURATION	FARE
Earliest trip	12:40 am	4:10 am	3 hours and 30 minutes	£18
Cheapest trip	2:40 am	6:10 am	3 hours and 30 minutes	£13
Latest trip	10:40 pm	2:10 am	3 hours and 30 minutes	£14

After you reach Aberdeen, you will continue your journey by catching two more buses: bus 201 towards Ballater and then 203 towards Braemar. Both of these are operated by Stagecoach North Scotland.

The cost for this part is about £17, with the journey being about 3 hours long. Once you reach  Balmoral Road End Bus Stop, the Balmoral Castle will be just a quick 5-minute walk away.

Consider the fact that you will be sitting in at least three buses for more than 6 hours as you go from Glasgow to Balmoral. Good thing the buses are equipped with basic amenities that will help make the long ride more comfortable.

OPTION 3: How to get from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle by Private Transfer

• Travel Duration: varies
• Travel Fare: varies

The most comfortable way to get to Balmoral Castle from Glasgow is by taking a private transfer. This option may be one of the quickest ways, but it is also the most costly way to do so. Consider this if you do not mind the high fare and would really want to get to Balmoral Castle in no time.

Private transfer companies like Caledonian Cabs offer this service. Book with them in advance to get the updated rates and other important details to consider.

A private transfer is great if you are traveling as a group and would like to have the vehicle to yourself. You can also do away with strict schedules and transfers as this will be an option that will get you straight to your destination at your most preferred time.

OPTION 4: How to get from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle by Flight

• Travel Duration: from 6 hours and 51 minutes
• Travel Fare: from £146

It is possible to fly from Glasgow to Aberdeen, and then just continue your journey from there via bus or taxi. The flight departs from Glasgow International GLA and arrives at Aberdeen ABZ.

Here is a sample schedule of flights for this route:

Flight from Glasgow to Aberdeen

	DEPARTURE	ARRIVAL	DURATION	FARE
Best trip	7:55 am	1:30 am	5 hours and 35 minutes	£47
Cheapest trip	7:55 am	2:40 pm	6 hours and 45 minutes	£40
Fastest trip	2:40 pm	5:50 pm	3 hours and 10 minutes	£333

There is no direct flight from Glasgow to Aberdeen. Even the fastest schedule will have you transferring to Dublin Airport DUB. Ready to book that flight? Head over to Skyscanner for all the best flight deals.

Afterwards, it is another 1 hour and 16 minutes by taxi from the Airport to Balmoral Castle. The cost will be about £106. Alternatively, you can also take the bus.

OPTION 5: How to get from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle by Car

• Travel Duration: from 2 hours and 52 minutes
• Travel Fare: from £26.61

If you wish to drive on your own, you can always rent a car and research how to go from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle.  The drive will be about less than 3 hours if the weather and traffic conditions permit.

To get from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle by car, you must take the M8 motorway from Glasgow to reach the A9. This road will take you through Perth and onwards towards the Highlands.

Follow the A9 until you reach the A93 junction. Drive towards Braemar and eventually to Ballater. From there, you will see several signposts pointing you to Balmoral Castle.

If you are looking for the best rental car deals, head over to Discover Cars and browse through their wide list of vehicles available for your trip from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle. 

Is this your first time driving in the UK? Make sure to check out my article about road tips for first time visitors.

More About Balmoral Castle

• Want to know exactly where Balmoral Castle is located? Check that out in this article where I highlighted the castle’s location including some interesting stories that surround it! 
• You can also get to Balmoral Castle from Edinburgh. You can reach Balmoral Castle from Edinburgh by train, bus, car or tour. Find out more on the different ways to get there in this article that I wrote. 
• Balmoral Castle is definitely one of the most beautiful palaces and castles in Scotland that are worth visiting. Other places which made it to my list include the Edinburgh Castle, the Holyrood Palace and the Hermitage Castle.
• A journey to the Balmoral Castle and Estates is one of the best day trips you can take from Glasgow. Did you know? Before she passed away, Queen Elizabeth II made the yearly pilgrimage to Scotland’s north at the end of each summer to spend several weeks on vacation at Balmoral Castle.
• Explore the estate and its attractions through Get Your Guide, which has all the best tour packages for Balmoral Castle!

FAQs on How to Get from Glasgow to Balmoral Castle