Where is Balmoral Castle
On Deeside, Grampian, 8 miles west of Ballater.
The Estate grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the public from
mid-April to the end of July each year when the Royal family are not in
residence. Daily except Sunday.
History of Balmoral
Balmoral Castle was built in the 15th century.
Following a visit to Scotland in 1842, Queen Victoria leased this small
Deeside castle, without seeing it, as a holiday home. She saw it for the
first time in 1848, and was not disappointed, describing it as "
a pretty little castle in the old Scottish style"... " the finest
almost I have seen anywhere"
However the castle proved to be "too small", and Prince Albert bought the freehold in 1852 as a present for Victoria. They proceeded to built a new bigger castle 100 yards away from the original in the Scottish Baronial style , and that was completed in 1855
Victoria's original estate of 11,000 acres has been expanded to a 50,000 acre estate today
The Royal family continue to holiday here in August each year to use the salmon fishing and grouse shooting facilities of the Balmoral estate
