History: Fraserburgh to Aberdeen

This morning it is a visit to the dramatic Slains Castle, which proved an inspiration for Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, published in 1897. A castle was first built here in 1594, 3 years after Old Slains Castle, which is 6 miles south along the coast, was blown up by James 6th of Scotland. Home of the Hay Earls of Errol the castle continually developed as the fortunes of the family increased. By the late 1800’s the castle was at its peak and it was then when Bram Stoker would have visited. Shortly after the family fell on hard times and the castle was sold in 1915 and the roof removed in 1925. Today it is an impressive ruin, but it is not hard to visualize a vampires layer as Bram Stoker did.

Haddo House is a serene stately home designed in 1732 by William Adam for the Gordon family in the Palladian style. The house was remodelled in the 1880's to provide an opulent Victorian interior now housing an extensive and important art collection. Highlights include 85 paintings of Aberdeenshire castles by the acclaimed Victorian Artist James Giles. Many Gordon family portraits adorn most of the corridors and rooms, including George Hamilton Gordon, 4th earl of Aberdeen who was Prime Minister between 1852 and 1855, during which time the government took Britain into the Crimean War.