Aberdeenshire is home to a number of fascinating historical castles ranging from stark ruins to well preserved historical buildings.  Dotted throughout the region, Aberdeenshire is bountiful when it comes to castles with a large number gracing this area. There are so many castles to visit in fact that Aberdeenshire is officially described as having a castle trail, rich in historical buildings for you to discover.
The official Visit Scotland Castle Trail though does not list all of the ruins in Aberdeenshire though which is a pity as some of the best castles in terms of location, scenery and history are now ruins.
Still, when it comes to well preserved castles, the official Castle Trail can be a useful guide.
There are a total of 15 castles listed in the official Castle Trail but when you take in to account ruins not listed on this trail there are far more.
The 15 castles that have made it on to the official Castle Trail list include

Dunnottar Castle
Crathes Castle
Drum Castle
Castle Fraser
Tolquhon Castle
Haddo House
Fyvie Castle
Delgatie Castle
Duff House
Huntly Castle
Spynie Palace
Balvennie Castle
Kildrummy Castle
Corgarff Castle
Braemar Castle
Craigievar Castle

Some notable exceptions which have been omitted without good reason in our view include:

Slains Castle
Drummuir Castle
Fordyce Castle
Banff Castle
Craigston Castle
Ballindalloch Castle
Drumminor Cstle
Midmar Castle
Allardice Castle
Balmoral Castle
Corgarff Castle