Balmoral - The Late Queen’s Favourite Castle

Dear Diary,

Situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, in Ballatar, you’ll find the late Queen’s favourite Castle: Balmoral Castle.

It has been a well-loved home to the British Royal Family since 1852.

So, of course, whilst I was in the area to see the famous Royal Highland Games, I had to pass by Balmoral Castle for a visit. And it was worth it, especially the beautiful gardens.

The history

The first royal couple who owned Balmoral were Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Building works to extend the house began in 1853, as the house was deemed to be too small to accommodate the Royal Family. The original tower house dates back to the 16th century. The whole transformation took three years and was constructed using local material only.

The couple loved staying there. Victoria went on long walks around the estate whilst Albert was out hunting. Prince Albert also had an active role in developing the garden.

Nowadays, Balmoral Castle is the summer residence of the Royals.

Life at Balmoral Castle

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert also started a very special tradition at Balmoral. A ball held for their staff, called Ghillies, where staff and the Royal Family mix through highland dancing and lots of good food and drinks. The late Queen Elisabeth was also a big fan of this tradition.

The late Queen also had her own piper at Balmoral who woke her up every morning. He used to play at 9 am for fifteen minutes beneath her window.

Visiting Balmoral Castle

In 1931, the castle and grounds were first opened to the public. You can now visit daily from the 1st of April until the 10th of August.

Take a glimpse inside by visiting the ballroom. The room features various art installations and a collection of King Charles III paintings. Usually, there’s also a special exhibition running. Check their website to learn more.

For the first time since 1856, you can now also enjoy a guided tour through some other rooms within the castle (on selected dates only).

Over the years, the estate has grown to 50,000 acres of land, so you have to take a stroll through the stunning estate grounds and gardens. There’s a lot to explore.

If you fancy a longer visit, you can stay at one of their self-catering cottages.