Available languages
7 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Starting from Aberdeen we trace the river Dee to Balmoral where you can walk in the footsteps of generations of Royals who have called this estate home.
*Balmoral Estate is closed from 12th of August 24 until 1 October 24. We visit the National Trust For Scotland's Crathes Castle during the closure.
Take a stroll in the charming Victorian village of Ballater, explore the local heritage, the Victorian train station and the views of the area.
Next, we visit the iconic Cambus O'May suspension bridge, before we continue our journey to the Tomnavarie Stone Circle.
Finally, on our way back to Aberdeen, we stop at Queen Victoria's favourite views of Aberdeenshire.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
WiFi on board
Lunch
Gratuities
Balmoral Castle Tickets (General Admission)
Balmoral Castle
*Balmoral Castle & Estate is closed from the 10th of August until the 1st of October 25. This tour stop will be changed to the National Trust for Scotland's- Crathes Castle thereafter. Balmoral is a treasured family home for the Royal family since 1850, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert chose this beautiful region to create their great escape. A landscape with stunning views of the hills and mountains, fields of heather and the majestic river Dee that flows through it. The estate was the late Queen Elizabeth's private country retreat in Scotland and a beloved home. King Charles III has a great affection for the castle and grounds and often spends time walking through the estate. We highly recommend listening to the audio tour. The audio will share stories and guides you around the estate. The Ballroom is only room open to visitors within the Castle. The objects in the Ballroom are from within the Castle, and are all objects that belong to the Royal Family.
Ballater
The Victorian village of Ballater sits in the heart of Royal Deeside, at the eastern gateway to the Cairngorms National Park, making it one of Scotland’s most scenic visitor spots. A stroll around the village reveals an interesting range of specialty shops and good selection of restaurants and cafes to enjoy some of the local food & drink. Notice the shops which display Royal Warrants on their store fronts, a sure sign of quality and support from the Royal family. Sitting alongside the river Dee and surrounded by hills and mountains, Ballater is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Be sure to visit the beautiful Victorian Railway Station and the tourist information centre which has more information about the village. Walk past the Victorian Barracks, still in use, when the Royal family are staying in Balmoral.
63 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Karen G,
Jul 28, 2025
- Viator
This experience was absolutely AMAZING!! Our driver/guide, Alex, was incredibly knowledgeable and a great driver! The drive and sites were unspeakably outstanding and van was a quite comfortable.
Maja B,
Jul 25, 2025
- Viator
This is an amazing trip. Balmoral castle is a place worth visiting definitely, Ballater village, brige and stone circle also. Magnificent nature. The tour was well organized and Alex was an excellent guide. Very professional and well informed about all details. Would recommend without any hesitation. Thanks for good organization
William P,
Jul 21, 2025
- Viator
You need additional castle entry to see inside the castle. Excellent guide. Very knowledgeable with good stories to back up the dry facts.
Cyndi H,
Jun 16, 2025
- Viator
What a wonderful tour! Alex, our tour guide knew so much HISTORY AND BACKGROUND with every stop we made! Balmoral Castle and grounds was beautiful! Stops at bridges and spawning streams, the path that the Queen would take on way to Balmoral— the whole trip was wonderful!!!
Natalie c,
Jun 10, 2025
- Viator
It is a pleasant tour, not too many trips in a row. You can't go into Balmoral but the ground around it is worth it. The village of Ballatar is not much more than a nice lunch stop, otherwise there is not much to do. Our tour guide Jamie provided a lot of extra information and made an extra stopover that was not on the schedule, Burn O'vat which turned out to be a beautiful place. The Tomnaverie stone circle is beautifully situated on a hill giving you 360 views. This tour is definitely worth it if you love nature and history.
Operated by Grampian Escapes Tours Ltd