Are you wondering where is Balmoral Castle located? The large estate of Balmoral Castle is a true site to behold. This private Royal Family residence continues to evolve as successive Royal owners carry on with its upkeep and furtherance.
Where exactly is Balmoral Castle located? Balmoral Castle is located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland in the United Kingdom. It is specifically situated in the Cairngorms National Park on the banks of River Dee, with other lakes running within the area. The latitude of Balmoral Castle is 57.039665 while its longitude is -3.229236.
Curious to know more about the location of Balmoral Castle and the stories that make it even more interesting? Let’s learn about this regal destination together.
Where is Balmoral Castle located on the Map
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Balmoral Castle at a Glance
Balmoral Castle is about 50,000 acres or 20,000 hectares of land, and this includes forests, hills, and farmland. 8,000 acres or 3,200 hectares of the property is laden with trees.
The castle is a beautiful example of Scottish baronial and Gothic revival architecture. In fact, Historic Environment Scotland classified it as a category A listed building. Balmoral Castle is made from local granite. Its most distinguishable feature is its turreted clock tower.
The property is said to have 150 buildings in total, but the true number is not disclosed to the public. They are primarily used as venues for royal family holidays. Here are some of the buildings at the estate:
- Birkhall Cottage
- Craigowan Lodge
- Glas-allt-Shiel
- Karim Cottage
- Tam-na-Ghar
Balmoral Castle is also famous for having beautiful gardens. Some of the most notable ones are:
- Formal Gardens – this geometric garden is found near the castle.
- Water Garden – this garden features ponds and streams with waters coming from natural springs
- Walled Garden – this is a traditional Victorian-style garden that has a greenhouse and a potting shed. The castle’s fruit and vegetable supply comes from here.
- Woodland Garden – this is near River Dee and is teeming with wildlife.
Distance of Balmoral Castle to Other UK Destinations
DESTINATION | DISTANCE |
Ballater to Balmoral Castle | 12.55 kilometres or 7.8 miles |
Aberdeen to Balmoral Castle | 76.28 kilometres or 47.4 miles |
Dundee to Balmoral Castle | 98.65 kilometres or 61.3 miles |
Inverness to Balmoral Castle | 112.33 kilometres or 69.8 miles |
Edinburgh to Balmoral Castle | 165.2 kilometres or 102.7 miles |
Fun Facts About Balmoral Castle
- Balmoral Castle is the private residence of the British royal family. It was specifically purchased to be the home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852. The price of the Balmoral Castle back then was £32,000.
- After buying Balmoral Castle, the royal family felt that the place was not big enough. Prince Albert supervised the construction of a new and bigger castle. Afterwards, the old castle was demolished. Today, a marker can be seen where the original castle used to stand.
- Balmoral Castle is privately-owned, meaning it belongs to the Royal Family and is not a government property. There are only two privately-owned residences out here: Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House which is located at Norfolk, England.
- Some of the leisure activities which can be done at Balmoral Castle include horseback riding, hiking, fishing and hunting.
- The Ballochbuie Forest is located within the same area of Balmoral Castle. This 1,700-acre forest is the natural habitat of diverse wildlife species which include the red deer, otters, and golden eagles.
- Queen Elizabeth II rested during her last days at Balmoral Castle. In the past, it had been her tradition to spend her summer holidays here. We have the Queen to thank for the planting of new forests and the preservation of wildlife habitats within the property.
- You can find extensive collections of prized artworks at Balmoral Castle, including those of Monet, Landseer, and Canaletto.
- The splendour of Balmoral Castle is featured in many shows, including “The Crown” and “Victoria & Abdul.”
- There are a few months a year where Balmoral Castle is open to the public. This year, it will be open for visitors from April 1 until August 16, 2023. There are tours which you can book online.
- The Birkhall cottage at Balmoral now belongs to King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla. It has been the King’s place of choice since his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother passed away.
More About Balmoral Castle
- Balmoral Castle is definitely one of the most beautiful castles to visit in Scotland, along with Edinburgh Castle and Eilean Donan Castle.
- There are many ways to see Stonehenge! Get Your Guide has Balmoral Castle tours paired up with other great attractions within the area, so make sure to check them out.
- Balmoral Castle is easily accessible from neighboring areas in the UK. I trust Trainline and Omio when it comes to booking trains and bus rides. If I need to book a flight to where Balmoral Castle is, I go to Skyscanner. When I need to rent a car to drive to Balmoral Castle, Discover Cars saves me a lot of time by giving me all options in just one click.
Frequently Asked Questions About Balmoral Castle
What city is Balmoral Castle in?
Balmoral Castle is in the city of Aberdeenshire.
What is the nearest city to Balmoral Castle?
Aberdeen is the nearest city to Balmoral Castle. The two destinations are 76.28 kilometres or 47.4 miles away from each other.
Can you go into Balmoral Castle?
Yes, you can go inside Balmoral Castle. This year, Balmoral Castle will be open for visitors from April 1 until August 16, 2023. There are tours which you can book online.
Who lives in Balmoral Castle now?
No specific royal family member permanently lives in Balmoral Castle.
Where is Balmoral Castle from Edinburgh?
Balmoral Castle is 102.1 miles away from Edinburgh via M90 and A93.
Can you see Balmoral Castle from the road?
No, it is not possible to see Balmoral Castle from the road.
Is Balmoral Castle open to the public?
On specific months when the royal family is not residing in Balmoral Castle, it becomes open to the public for tours.
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Everything Zany Travel Blog exploring the UK and beyond. Sharing travel guides, tips, history, and culture. Our travel media brand is founded by travel and hotel industry expert – Ryazan Tristram, a Dual Citizen (British – Filipina) based in Birmingham, UK. Everything Zany is a reputable and award-winning travel blog. Our work and contributions have been featured in Huffington Post, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our missions are to build a great travel community and resource of travel tips, visas, and travel guides for travelers. Join us as we travel around the UK and beyond with a mission to share the best of the world.
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