Castle / Palace in Scotland
12 guests · 7 bedrooms · 6 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
Top-tier experienceA high end property in this area
About this castle / palace rental
Craigston Castle was built by my family in 1604. This Grade A listed building is still our family home and we only rent it approximately 12 weeks a year (usually May to October). We get great pleasure in offering people an insight into what it is like to live in a place like this. The income we earn is all directed to conserving the building and estate. Prices vary dependent on the month. Please ask.
Environmental, social as well as economic sustainability are very much at the heart of all that we do at Craigston. We are trying to turn the estate as “green as possible “and an important part of that has been converting the castle heating and hot water from oil to biomass. Our state-of-the-art boiler is fuelled by chipping wood that is harvested (and then replanted) from the estate. We are always looking at other ways of improving on our footprint. In 2021 we conducted a whole estate carbon audit, and we are proud to say that “we are carbon negative”. We use Eco Friendly detergents/cleaning stuff, recycled toilet paper and kitchen roll, we offer you the use of fabric shopping bags and fabric napkins during your stay and much more.
At Craigston, each room is unique and beautifully decorated with period furniture including some original four-poster beds. Each room has its own bathroom, either ensuite or dedicated. In the evening you can sit in the drawing room and enjoy a good whisky from one of the many local distilleries.
We can provide you with our trusted partners contacts to organize professional whisky tasting in the castle, catering, cook etc, or outdoor activities like clay pigeon shooting, archery and falconry sessions in the castle grounds. For supplier off our list, only previous written agreement with us. A welcome hamper, shopping, maid service / extra cleaning, are also available for an extra cost (but need to be booked in good time).
The main reception rooms include the spacious drawing room with the open fire, the anti drawing-room, and the Queen's room which has satellite SMART TV. The traditional kitchen is fully equipped with modern appliances, with plenty of storage room in the adjacent larder. Meals can be eaten either in the kitchen or in two dining rooms: the Morning room, and the Colonia room.
A beautiful library is available to visit, please just ask.
The estate's 750 acres of parkland and farm are at your disposal to explore and enjoy, they are open to public though. There are a number of trails to walk, or even bike, and you will find beautiful 18th century stone bridges that cross estate burns and brooks. There are plenty of wild animals to be seen including roe deer, foxes, badgers, red squirrels, pine martens, hares, woodcock, owls, buzzards, sparrow hawks, and ospreys.
The castle is 5 miles from one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world where you will find picturesque fishing villages and beautiful beaches. The nearest village of Turriff (5 miles away) has a good selection of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, pubs, etc.
Nearby:
Banffshire Coast
Nicknamed Scotland’s secret dolphin coast, Banffshire is a place of undisturbed natural beauty where dolphins, gannets, porpoises, puffins, and the occasional whale make their home. It is dotted with fishing villages such as Penan (famous for the filming of “Local Hero”), Sandend, and Crovie which have remained remarkably well preserved and which have resisted the advances of too much modern development. The coastline is dramatic and breath-taking but very accessible with many clifftop walks and wonderful beaches.
Castles
There are a great many castles to see in Aberdeenshire and many form part of the Castle trail. The area includes Haddo Country Park, Fyvie Castle, and Craigievar (which inspired Walt Disney to create the castle we see in his famous films). Royal Deeside is also not far away where you can see Balmoral Estate one of the late Queen's preferred private residence prominently featured in the TV series the Crown.
Walking
As well as the stunning coastal walks there are a number of excellent walks/trails in Aberdeenshire including, Mount Keen (Cairtngorms National Partk), Dunnotter castle via stonehaven, Fetteresso (Three stones Hill Circular), Balmoral Cairns, Bennachie Forest Peaks loop etc etc ...
Nature and Wildlife
Nature Reserves in Aberdeenshire include Sands of Forvie (a beautiful spot with endless sand dunes and plentiful birdlife); the Loch of Strathbeg (home to 252 species of bird, including 20 percent of the world's population of pink-footed geese); Troup Head Nature Preserve and Glen Tanar.
The Cairngorms National Park
The UK's largest national park with 4,500 sq km of unspoilt countryside. From the traditional town of Grantown-on-Spey (1h 45min drive from Craigston) to the highest village of Tomintoul.
Golf
Craigston is a great base for a week's golfing holiday. Indeed, you could play two different courses every day of your stay and only travel 30 to 40 mins by car. Some of the closest include: Royal Tarlair Golf Club, Turriff Golf Club, Craibstone Golf, Huntly Golf Club, Old Meldrum Golf Club, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, Duff House Golf Club, Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen, etc etc...
Environmental, social as well as economic sustainability are very much at the heart of all that we do at Craigston. We are trying to turn the estate as “green as possible “and an important part of that has been converting the castle heating and hot water from oil to biomass. Our state-of-the-art boiler is fuelled by chipping wood that is harvested (and then replanted) from the estate. We are always looking at other ways of improving on our footprint. In 2021 we conducted a whole estate carbon audit, and we are proud to say that “we are carbon negative”. We use Eco Friendly detergents/cleaning stuff, recycled toilet paper and kitchen roll, we offer you the use of fabric shopping bags and fabric napkins during your stay and much more.
At Craigston, each room is unique and beautifully decorated with period furniture including some original four-poster beds. Each room has its own bathroom, either ensuite or dedicated. In the evening you can sit in the drawing room and enjoy a good whisky from one of the many local distilleries.
We can provide you with our trusted partners contacts to organize professional whisky tasting in the castle, catering, cook etc, or outdoor activities like clay pigeon shooting, archery and falconry sessions in the castle grounds. For supplier off our list, only previous written agreement with us. A welcome hamper, shopping, maid service / extra cleaning, are also available for an extra cost (but need to be booked in good time).
The main reception rooms include the spacious drawing room with the open fire, the anti drawing-room, and the Queen's room which has satellite SMART TV. The traditional kitchen is fully equipped with modern appliances, with plenty of storage room in the adjacent larder. Meals can be eaten either in the kitchen or in two dining rooms: the Morning room, and the Colonia room.
A beautiful library is available to visit, please just ask.
The estate's 750 acres of parkland and farm are at your disposal to explore and enjoy, they are open to public though. There are a number of trails to walk, or even bike, and you will find beautiful 18th century stone bridges that cross estate burns and brooks. There are plenty of wild animals to be seen including roe deer, foxes, badgers, red squirrels, pine martens, hares, woodcock, owls, buzzards, sparrow hawks, and ospreys.
The castle is 5 miles from one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world where you will find picturesque fishing villages and beautiful beaches. The nearest village of Turriff (5 miles away) has a good selection of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, pubs, etc.
Nearby:
Banffshire Coast
Nicknamed Scotland’s secret dolphin coast, Banffshire is a place of undisturbed natural beauty where dolphins, gannets, porpoises, puffins, and the occasional whale make their home. It is dotted with fishing villages such as Penan (famous for the filming of “Local Hero”), Sandend, and Crovie which have remained remarkably well preserved and which have resisted the advances of too much modern development. The coastline is dramatic and breath-taking but very accessible with many clifftop walks and wonderful beaches.
Castles
There are a great many castles to see in Aberdeenshire and many form part of the Castle trail. The area includes Haddo Country Park, Fyvie Castle, and Craigievar (which inspired Walt Disney to create the castle we see in his famous films). Royal Deeside is also not far away where you can see Balmoral Estate one of the late Queen's preferred private residence prominently featured in the TV series the Crown.
Walking
As well as the stunning coastal walks there are a number of excellent walks/trails in Aberdeenshire including, Mount Keen (Cairtngorms National Partk), Dunnotter castle via stonehaven, Fetteresso (Three stones Hill Circular), Balmoral Cairns, Bennachie Forest Peaks loop etc etc ...
Nature and Wildlife
Nature Reserves in Aberdeenshire include Sands of Forvie (a beautiful spot with endless sand dunes and plentiful birdlife); the Loch of Strathbeg (home to 252 species of bird, including 20 percent of the world's population of pink-footed geese); Troup Head Nature Preserve and Glen Tanar.
The Cairngorms National Park
The UK's largest national park with 4,500 sq km of unspoilt countryside. From the traditional town of Grantown-on-Spey (1h 45min drive from Craigston) to the highest village of Tomintoul.
Golf
Craigston is a great base for a week's golfing holiday. Indeed, you could play two different courses every day of your stay and only travel 30 to 40 mins by car. Some of the closest include: Royal Tarlair Golf Club, Turriff Golf Club, Craibstone Golf, Huntly Golf Club, Old Meldrum Golf Club, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, Duff House Golf Club, Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen, etc etc...
Amenities at Craigston castle. Experience our family home
Non-smoking
Pets allowed
Map of Scotland
Ratings and reviews
10 / 10Outstanding·Sep 2025
Craigston is a magical old-fashioned place, well-equipped and clean. We got to live like Lairds for a week as the family opened up their home, complete with fascinating old magazines, artefacts and paintings. Everyone in our group (aged from 10-79) loved it. Thank you to our hosts and to Elisabetta for your kind hospitality.
10 / 10Outstanding·Aug 2025
Preparation until guests check-out, Elisabetta has done a wonderful job to create the family holiday. Guests stayed here have enjoyed their stay, and once in a life time memory created! Elisabetta was very honest around the children's safety with stairs near the room so suggested a better/safer room for them. Well looked after by lovely family at this castle :)
10 / 10Outstanding·Jul 2025
I have to admit that my very first instinct is to gatekeep the wonder that is Craigston Castle because it is such a jewel, but if others had done the same, I'd never have found it myself! My husband wanted to stay in a castle in Scotland for his 50th birthday. It's a relatively daunting process to evaluate all of your options when you're planning on taking a group of 12 from the States to partake. What if it doesn't measure up? What if its amenities are not as described? What if it feels too dilapidated/too modern/too stuffy/too anything and everyone's arrived and there's nothing you can do about it? I am here to say that Craigston is absolutely stunning and simply wonderful in every regard. It took us about a year to plan our trip. Elisabetta, our host, was extremely responsive throughout and gave us an amazing list of resources to make our trip memorable and smooth. (She's also just a lovely person). We were recommended to work with Alister and Daniel of ADR Hospitality Group and that was an excellent suggestion, too. Because VRBO wants me to be concise - I'm forced to bullet point from here on out:- The castle itself is unbelievably gorgeous, authentic, and comfortable. it is legitimately an historic family home with all that that entails, if that makes sense, and it makes all the difference.- The grounds are beyond compare.- It was amazing. - Just see the pics. - Can't wait to return.
10 / 10Outstanding·Jul 2025
We had an incredible time! As a family of 9 Urquhart's, the history of the castle was important for us. It meant the world to us to be able to experience it as a large group. The bathrooms were fully updated and functioning. The kitchen was fully stocked for large groups. We were able to cook several meals on our own, including the fresh haddock we caught in Macduff! The walled garden was a little piece of heaven to walk around in. We were able to enjoy fresh herbs/vegetable, offered by the wonderful house manager, Elisabetta. The kids would walk down to feed and be with the horses who lived next to the garden. We were able to plan clay pigeon shooting, which occurred on property. Was an absolute blast! Elisabetta was such a pleasure to work with and made our stay very easy. Looking forward to staying again in the future.
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Top rated by guests
10Outstanding
(11 Ratings)
"Craigston is a magical old-fashioned place, well-equipped and clean. We got to live like Lairds for a week as the family opened up their home, complete with fascinating old magazines, artefacts and p..."
Bess S.Don't miss out! Price and availability may change
