Abergeldie Castle

Abergeldie Castle is a four-floor tower house located in Crathie and Braemar parish in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It stands on the south bank of the River Dee, about five miles west of Ballater and two miles east of the royal residence of Balmoral Castle. The name “Abergeldie” is derived from the Pictish language and means “confluence of Geldie,” a reference to its location near the confluence of the River Geldie and the River Dee. The castle is believed to have been built around 1550 by Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar, son of the first Earl of Huntly, on grounds that had been acquired by the Gordon family in 1482. It has a long history of ownership by the Gordon family and is protected as a category A listed building.

Throughout its history, Abergeldie Castle has played a significant role in several events in Scottish history. During the first Jacobite rising in 1689-1690, the castle was besieged by Jacobite forces. However, following the defeat of General Buchan’s Jacobite forces by Sir Thomas Livingstone at Cromdale, General Hugh Mackay of Scourie marched with some cavalry and 1,400 Williamite Dutch infantry to lift the siege. In the 1715 Jacobite Rising, the castle was garrisoned by government troops, and in the 1719 Rising, it was briefly garrisoned by Spanish troops. In the 19th century, Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria, leased the Abergeldie Estate for 40 years and the castle was used as a summer residence and shooting box by members of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and the Empress Eugénie.

The castle is known for its original interior, which has been restored by a descendant of its builder, and for its ghost, which is said to haunt the castle. It has also been used as a summer residence and shooting box by members of the royal family and has hosted important guests, including the Duchess of Kent and W. E. Gladstone.