Silversea Luxury Cruises À ABERDEEN

Experience the breath-taking beauty and scenery of Royal Deeside and the Balmoral Castle during this picturesque, half-day sightseeing excursion.

Aberdeen, River Dee, Lochnagar Mountain, Royal Deeside

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 1.5-hour drive to the world-renowned Balmoral Castle. En route, pass through one of the most beautiful locales in the heart of Scotland, the magnificent valley of the River Dee. Rising high in the Cairngorm Mountains and running east to its mouth at Aberdeen, the river flows through some of Scotland's finest scenery. Midway, in the shadow of Lochnagar Mountain, lies royal Balmoral Castle, summer home of the Royal Family. Hence the name, 'Royal Deeside'.

Balmoral Castle and Estate

Although Royal Deeside abounds with beauty and contains a clutch of fine castles, its centrepiece is the Balmoral Castle and Estate. Balmoral has been one of the residences for members of the British Royal Family since 1852, when the estate and its original castle were purchased privately by Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria. Soon after the estate was purchased by the Royal Family, the existing house was found to be too small and the current Balmoral Castle was commissioned. Though relatively modern, Balmoral Castle is patterned after the style of a traditional Scottish castle. Built around 1854, this world-renowned castle serves as the private home of the Royal Family, who spend up to two months here each summer.

Guided Tour of the Castle, Grounds, Garden, Garden Cottage, and Ballroom

Upon arrival, take a guided tour of the Balmoral Castle. Along the way, stroll through the lovely grounds and gardens of the estate, including the Garden Cottage. Here, Queen Victoria would sometimes take breakfast, deal with state correspondence and write her diaries. Next, explore the largest room in the castle, the spectacular Ballroom, with its many artefacts and works of art. Additional highlights to be seen include paintings, silverware, porcelain and the famous Balmoral tartans. Following your tour, some free time is made available to explore the gardens at your leisure, or browse the royal souvenirs at the castle's Gift Shop. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 1.5-hour drive back to the pier.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking, at times over uneven surfaces and chipped and gravel walkways, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach, and wide staircases inside the Balmoral Castle and Ballroom. Walking at Balmoral Castle is at the discretion of each guest. This tour is suitable for guests with limited mobility, but is not wheelchair-accessible nor suitable for guests with motion sickness. Guests are advised to wear warm, comfortable clothing in layers with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sun protection and a weatherproof jacket or coat from the ship. The driving time between the pier and Balmoral Castle is approximately 1.5 hours in each direction.

Explore one of the best-preserved castles in Scotland during this memorable, half-day sightseeing excursion.

Aberdeen, Royal Deeside

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 45-minute drive west for a visit to the Crathes Castle, one of the best-preserved castles in Scotland. En route, pass through one of the most beautiful locales in the heart of Scotland, the magnificent valley of the River Dee. Rising high in the Cairngorm Mountains and running east to its mouth at Aberdeen, the river flows through some of Scotland's finest scenery. Midway, in the shadow of Lochnagar Mountain, lies the Royal Balmoral Castle, summer home of the Royal Family. Hence the name, 'Royal Deeside'

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Crathes Castle, Horn of Leys, Portrait Collection, Scottish Renaissance Painted Ceilings

Upon arrival, the exquisite beauty of the Crathes Castle is readily apparent, with its fairy tale turrets and fantastic gargoyles. Crathes Castle was home to the Burnett Family of Leys for almost four centuries. During your guided walking tour, see the Horn of Leys, which was given by Robert the Bruce in 1323. The castle also features splendid décor, a significant collection of portraits and intriguing original Scottish Renaissance painted ceilings, which can be seen in several Jacobean rooms.

Walled Garden, Lovely Borders, Yew Hedges, Rose Garden, Fountain, Glass House

Next, proceed for a visit to the adjacent walled garden, which is almost as famous as the castle itself. This exquisite walled garden features lovely borders, ancient yew hedges, a rose garden, fountain, and glass house. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 45-minute drive back to the pier.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking, at times over uneven, flagstone, grassy, and forested surfaces, hills and inclines, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach, spiral staircases throughout the castle and some stairs in the garden. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear warm, comfortable clothing in layers with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sun protection and a weatherproof jacket from the ship.

Experience the beauty and grandeur of one of the Royal strongholds of medieval Scotland during this picturesque, half-day sightseeing excursion.

Aberdeen, Royal Deeside

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately one-hour drive west for a visit to the Fyvie Castle, one of the original Royal strongholds that once formed a chain of fortresses across medieval Scotland. En route, pass through one of the most beautiful locales in the heart of Scotland, the magnificent valley of the River Dee. Rising high in the Cairngorm Mountains and running east to its mouth at Aberdeen, the river flows through some of Scotland's finest scenery. Midway, in the shadow of Lochnagar Mountain, lies the Royal Balmoral Castle, summer home of the Royal Family. Hence the name, 'Royal Deeside'.

Fyvie Castle, Private Art and Portrait Collections, Fine Furniture, Tapestries, Arms, Armour

Undoubtedly one of the finest castles in Scotland, Fyvie can trace its royal connections back to 1211, and William the Lion. Robert the Bruce held open-air court at Fyvie, and Charles I spent some years here as a child. Each tower of this magnificent Scottish Baronial fortress is traditionally associated with one of the castle's five successive families; Preston, Meldrum, Seton, Gordon, and Forbes-Leith. During your guided walking tour, you can see their influences today, from the medieval stones to the lavish Edwardian interiors. Marvel at the castle's abundant artwork, rich portrait collection and one of the largest private collections of Raeburns in the world. There is an equally impressive collection of fine furniture, tapestries, arms and armour to explore throughout the castle's vast chambers.

Art Conservator Talk, Art Preservation Demonstration, Prosecco, Afternoon Tea

Next, join in an expert talk with an art conservator and view a demonstration of art preservation. Following your guided tour of the castle, proceed to the historic Squash Courts. Here, you can enjoy the tradition of being lord or lady of the castle with a glass of Prosecco and Afternoon Tea, which includes finger sandwiches, small cakes, and scones with jam and clotted cream. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately one-hour drive back to the pier.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking, at times over uneven, gravel, wooden and flagstone surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and a spiral staircase inside the castle; a lift is available. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear warm, comfortable clothing in layers with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sun protection and a weatherproof jacket from the ship. Space on this tour is very limited; we suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Explore the history and flavours of Aberdeen during this scenic and informative, half-day excursion to the Glen Garioch Distillery.

Aberdeen, Garioch Countryside and Valley, Oldmeldrum, Glen Garioch Distillery

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 50-minute drive through the stunning Scottish countryside of Garioch, (pronounced 'Geery') to Oldmeldrum, a traditional, rural market town dating back to the 9th century. Upon arrival, head to the Glen Garioch Distillery, nested in the sheltered heart of the Garioch Valley. Traditionally the finest barley-growing area of Scotland due to its mild climate, abundant sunshine and not too much rain, the Garioch Valley was once home to no fewer than six distilleries. Today, this valley cradles just one, which bears its name and dates back over 200 years. The renowned Glen Garioch Distillery has changed hands several times, and the current owners have had the distillery in their family since 1886.

Guided Distillery Tour

Since its inception, the Glen Garioch Distillery has been handcrafting a wide range of single-malt scotch whiskies that have won prestigious awards at international competitions. Glen Garioch malt is a light, clean malt, with spices and peat to give it some body. During your guided tour of the Glen Garioch Distillery, see time-honoured skills at work. Learn about the entire production process, from the malting through the storage of the barrels. Observe the process in operation, smell the wonderful, malt-like aromas and touch the natural ingredients. Production machinery to be seen includes the malt mill, which grinds the malt to a coarse grist powder, and the mash tubs.

Warehouse, Visitor's Centre, Whisky-Tasting, Gift Shop

Next, visit the warehouse, where 55-gallon casks are stored for a minimum of three years for blended whiskeys, and over eight years for malt whisky. Following your tour, proceed to the Visitor's Centre to sample Glen Garioch's award-winning Highland Single-Malt Whisky. Afterward, some free time is made available to browse the Gift Shop. Here, you can purchase bottles of blended and malt whiskies, including 10- and 15-year-old malts, and a tempting, 21-year-old whisky for connoisseurs. A wide range of other gifts is also available for sale. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach for the approximately 50-minute drive back to the pier.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking, at times over uneven surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and at the distillery. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear warm, comfortable clothing in layers with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sun protection and a weatherproof jacket or coat from the ship. Guests must be at least 21 years old to participate on this tour. Space on this tour is very limited; we suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Embrace the exquisite natural splendour of the Pitmedden Gardens during this panoramic, half-day sightseeing excursion.

Aberdeen, Grampian Region, Pitmedden Gardens, Great Garden, Upper Garden, Fountains

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 45-minute drive north to the Pitmedden Gardens. A renowned landmark of unique beauty, design and historical importance, the Pitmedden Gardens is nestled amidst the most fertile belt of land in the Grampian region. Originally established as a walled, formal terrace garden in 1675, this 100-acre (40-hectare) property evolved into a magnificent working market garden by the first-half of the 20th century. In 1952, Pitmedden Gardens was bequeathed to the Scotland National Trust, which set a goal of restoring the Great Garden to reflect its 17th-century origins. The restoration of the Great Garden and Upper Garden includes lovely fountains surrounded by unusual, split-pebble pavement.

Pitmedden Gardens, Parterres, Buttresses, Grass, Fruit Trees, Lower Garden, Plants

Upon arrival at Pitmedden Gardens, take a self-guided stroll through this marvellous amalgam of parterres, buttresses, herbaceous borders, grass, and fruit trees protected by high, staunch granite walls. Although the gardens are most visually appealing during July, they require ongoing, large-scale maintenance. The colours in the four parterres of the Lower Garden are provided by 30,000 annual plants raised in expansive glasshouses and frames. They are planted out in May, and burst into colour during the summer months. In addition, there are six miles (about 9.5 kilometres) of boxwood hedges to be kept in trim. Perennial planting is gradually replacing some annuals, which extends the season by providing colour earlier in the year.

Museum of Farming Life, Old Farmhouse, Bothy, Domestic and Agricultural Artefacts

The spectacular herbaceous borders are sure to inspire keen gardeners, and the fruit trees, fountains, topiary and sundials add interest to these beautiful gardens. The property is also home to the Museum of Farming Life, where you can visit an old farmhouse and bothy, and see an extensive collection of domestic and agricultural artefacts of a bygone era. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 45-minute drive back to the pier.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking, at times over uneven, gravel, and grassy surfaces and inclines, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach, steps from the upper-to-lower parterres, one step into the living room and 13 steps to the two upper rooms at the farmhouse in the Museum of Farming Life. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Lightweight, comfortable clothing, flat, closed-toe walking shoes and sun protection are recommended.