Balmoral Fort’s 167 rooms and lavish grounds have lengthy been evaded the prying eyes of the general public, however for the primary time in historical past, the royal property is now open to guests.
Associated: How to spend 1 day in Edinburgh
Balmoral Fort in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is without doubt one of the British royal household’s most beloved properties. Queen Elizabeth II was so keen on the citadel that she spent almost each summer time of her life there. She even spent her ultimate moments there in September 2022.
For the very first time, Balmoral Fort is open to most of the people for excursions till Aug. 11. Royals fans rapidly bought the 100 British kilos ($130) tickets for the inside tour after they went on sale; fortunately, the 17.50 pound ($22.60) basic admission tickets to the property, gardens and exhibition are nonetheless obtainable.
Inside, you may wander the attractive property the place Prince Philip proposed to the queen, take within the dramatic views of the citadel the place Princes William and Harry discovered about Princess Diana’s loss of life, try King Charles’ flower gardens and admire the ballroom the place the royals celebration.
Getting there
It takes some effort to achieve the citadel’s secluded location.
If you happen to’re visiting Scotland by airplane, you will first wish to fly into Aberdeen Worldwide Airport (ABZ) earlier than making your approach to the highlands. Balmoral Fort is located roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Aberdeen, surrounded by majestic hills and views worthy of a royal. A taxi is a pricey affair and can set you again 120 kilos ($155). So, until you are keen to splurge, renting a automobile for the day may be a greater concept. The one-hour-and-20-minute drive by way of the beautiful Scottish countryside is an expertise in itself.
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Alternatively, you may take public transportation, however it is going to take you as much as three hours and require a number of adjustments. The most suitable choice we discovered was the 201 Ballater bus from Union Sq., which can take you to Golf Highway; there, you will have to vary to the 203 Braemar bus. This one will cease near the parking zone at Balmoral Property.
Notice, nevertheless, that every day buses do not run that usually, so be sure you plan nicely and persist with a schedule if you happen to select this selection.
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You too can be a part of organized day journeys from Aberdeen by way of reserving websites reminiscent of GetYourGuide. The excursions embody visits to spots such because the charming village of Ballater and Cairngorms Nationwide Park along with the Balmoral property itself. The Balmoral Fort leg of the tour, nevertheless, is mostly restricted to simply two hours, so that you would possibly really feel a bit rushed. It is also necessary to notice that when reserving a tour, typically the doorway ticket to Balmoral Fort must be booked individually.
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If you happen to can, it is higher to arrange your personal transportation to the citadel so you may have as a lot time as attainable to discover. Come early within the morning, because the grounds are large. You may want an entire day to get round them.
It is a good suggestion to remain in Aberdeen the evening earlier than. There are a lot of inexpensive choices within the metropolis heart, in addition to inns you may ebook with factors. Use Hilton Honors factors at Hilton Aberdeen TECA, or redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors to ebook Aloft Aberdeen TECA.
What’s inside?
Balmoral Fort has an extended historical past, and plenty of necessary royal occasions have occurred there over time. If you happen to’re a historical past buff, we suggest choosing up the audio information to deliver all the pieces to life. The citadel has been the Scottish residence of the royal household since Prince Albert bought it for Queen Victoria in 1852, so there may be plenty of historical past to cowl.
When you’re admitted onto the grounds, you are free to discover the property as you want. The audiobook is ideal for self-guided excursions.
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Be sure you deliver a pair of snug sneakers, as you will be strolling quite a bit. The stroll from the gates to the citadel alone takes round 20 minutes, and there are many countryside walks within the space to take pleasure in along with visiting the citadel.
Highlights of the tour embody the exhibition within the ballroom — the place you may see a number of the royals’ iconic robes and be taught extra concerning the significance of the property (no footage are allowed, sadly) — the views of the citadel from the attractive backyard and lunch in royal environment.
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There’s a customer cafe near the citadel that serves scones and sandwiches, in addition to tea, espresso and truffles. The costs are surprisingly inexpensive; I paid 8.25 kilos ($10.66) for a scone and a cappuccino. Subsequent to the cafe, you will additionally discover a reward store that’s positively value testing.
Backside line
Balmoral Fort has opened to most of the people for the primary time. Guests can stroll by way of the identical rooms and grounds because the British royal household and be taught concerning the web site’s wealthy historical past and heritage. Tour tickets will be booked now on the Balmoral Castle website.
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