Drum Castle is a castle near Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. For centuries it was the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine. The place-name Drum is derived from Gaelic druim, 'ridge'.The site is located approximately 6+1⁄2 miles (10.5 kilometres) northeast of Banchory and 3 miles (5 kilometres) west of Peterculter. The property is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is open to the public.
About this place
Jacobite tales whisper through the medieval grand hall of this castle
- Visit one of Scotland’s oldest tower houses.
- Stroll through the Old Wood of Drum, home to oak trees dating from the 1700s.
- Admire Drum’s exquisite chapel, built in the 1500s.
- Relax amid the heady scents of roses in the walled garden.
The sweep of 700 years of history is stamped into Drum’s battlements, medieval square tower and sprawling extensions.
The Royal Forest and Tower of Drum were given to the Irvine family by Robert the Bruce in 1323. Later a Jacobean mansion house was added, and in the Victorian era the lower hall was converted to a library, now containing a mighty 4,000 books.
The beautiful walled garden is divided into quadrants that show how garden design has developed from the 17th to the 20th century, with an especial focus on roses.
The ancient oak forest adjoins the castle, providing a sense of continuity through the centuries and a home for red kites, roe deer, red squirrels and badgers.
