I have been researching times open for the castles. I have run into a dilemma for May.

Opening Times:
Balmoral – daily
Braemar - Saturday and Sunday
Craigievar – Friday-Tuesday
Crathes – daily
Drum Thursday-Monday
Fraser – Wednesday-Sunday

I planned visiting all day Thursday and little Friday morning before driving to St Andrews and down the East Neuk Village along the coast. Then staying outside Edinburgh Friday night so as to visit Sterling Castle Saturday day before needing to turn car back in.
I wonder if I should visit on Sunday these castles due to limited times they are open.

1 .Is this too much in too little time?
2. Which castles are best for touring inside?
Suggestions are welcome. All help is wonderful. This is an expensive trip just to arrive and everything be closed.

Original Itinerary I had planned but can be changed:
Arrive Wednesday late in day Aberdeen.
And depart Tuesday afternoon Edinburgh.

Thanks to all,
betsy3

Fraser and Drum are good for exploring. Fraser is a well-maintained paradigm of a laird's country estate. Drum is a mishmash of styles and expansions from its initial construction in 1300s. On your other thread, you've already heard that Balmoral is just a quick visit because there is so little that you can actually access.

I LOVE Crathes both inside and out, great gardens. Balmoral is my last choice. I liked Fyvie a lot, and also Drum (did not get to go inside though). They had gorgeous gardens. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tammima...57621786086269
The others I have not been to.

Crathes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tammima...57600601602153

amelie your pictures are great! I love the one from Crathes.
I do not know if May will be as pretty as the June picture.

Does anyone have an opinion on Braemar or Craigievar?

Thanks

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those castles really!

Of the ones on your list - my personal musts would be:

Craigievar, Crathes and either Drum or Fraser. But I would <B>100%</B> include Dunnottar as well. On Thurs-Fri AM you could easily see all of these.

Balmoral is just a quick look-see and Braemar has inconvenient opening hours and is too far west to be really workable w/ the rest so I'd skip both.

I was thinking of Dunnottar also, and it's an fairly easy stop on your way to the East Neuk. Personally I wouldn't try to see all that's on your list. I'm a big castle fan, but there is such a thing as castle overload. I've not been to Craigievar so can't comment on it, but I really enjoyed Crathes, Drum and Fraser.

Thanks everyone.

I have been looking at Dunnottar Castle on the web. It is a must!

Any suggestions on hotel. I made a reservation in Aberdeen but someone wrote about the traffic. Also the Mary Culter House looks great but too expensive for us.

Dunnottar IS a must! Sorry no recs. for the area since we stay with my in-laws.

What is your budget?

here are a few B&Bs in different prices ranges

http://www.craigievar.org/
http://www.schonwald.co.uk/index.html
http://www.uppercrawton.co.uk/index.html
http://www.struanhall.co.uk/
http://www.davont.co.uk/index.html
http://www.barehillock.co.uk/
http://www.lochtonhouse.co.uk/index.html

janisj --
Thank you so very much.

The best B&B we stayed at was in Grantown - on - Spey, called Kinross House http://www.kinrosshouse.co.uk/. The hostess is friendly and delightful, there's a great pub (Craig Bar) a half block away (staggering distance) with great pies.

But Greendragon -- Grantown-on-Spey is a loooooong drive (nearly 3 hours) from Crathes and the other castles betsy wants to visit.

But there are other castles nearby...