Guide to the National Trust for Scotland in Aberdeen and the NTS Scotland properties in Aberdeenshire with an offer for free membership and a free gift from the National Trust:

Join the National Trust and get free entry to properties owned by The National Trust for Scotland. In addition you will get a free picnic rug or a free pair of National Trust binoculars and three months free membership if you pay by direct debit. You will also get free entry to over 300 historic houses and gardens throughout Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen have many properties throughout Aberdeenshire and have an active series of events throughout the year. These include events for children and events for children. For example Crathes Castle holds concerts throughout the summer and at Halloween the kids and grown ups can take part in parties at most of the castles and halls throughout the Shire. The grounds of Castle Fraser host assorted events ranging from bat walks, jousting tournaments, highland games and the annual Castle Fraser steam and vintage fair.

List of properties of the National trust for Scotland in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire include:

Castle Fraser

Craigievar Castle

Crathes Castle

Drum Castle

Fyvie Castle

Haddo House

Leith Hall

Mar Lodge Estate

Pitmedden Garden

There are links to each of these properties on the AboutAberdeen Scottish castles page which takes you to each AboutAberdeen review with photographs.

As a member of the National trust for Scotland you get a free NTS sticker for your car that entitles the holder to free car parking at the NTS Scotland properties. This is particularly useful for Crathes Castle which many NTS members use to enjoy the park, woodland walk and picnic area or restaurant on a fine day.

The National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen properties have guides in most rooms such as at Crathes Castle whilst others like Craigievar Castle have timed guided tours by knowledgeable NTS staff. In the experience of the AboutAberdeen team the staff are very helpful and are pleased to answer and questions. They have been a great help in compiling our ghost story collection at the Ghosts And Ghost Stories Of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Scotland page which includes many National Trust for Scotland ghosts.

The properties of the National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen castles are old historic buildings and wherever possible there is disabled access. Some like Drum Castle do involve climbing stairs to reach certain rooms, Great Halls and even the roof in the case of Castle Fraser. Others such as Haddo House have disabled access to many rooms though and our Castle reviews or the NT handbook will give disabled visitors more information.

The gardens of the National Trust for Scotland are mostly accessible for disabled visitors and this is certainly the case for the splendid Pitmedden Gardens and their delicious tearoom. There is also the option to buy plants and flowers from many of the NTS properties from their team of gardeners. Plant sales often include seasonal bulbs and specialist plants.

Most of the National Trust for Scotland properties allow you to take photos from outside the attraction but ask visitors not to take pictures inside their attractions. However many of the National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen guide books have many professionally taken photographs with the history of each attraction. To preserve the paintings and furniture visitors are asked not to touch exhibits or sit on the antiques such as the four poster beds.

Dogs are not permitted within the NTS properties but many locations have dog walking areas. Haddo House even has a small assault course for exercising dogs!

Each new member to the National Trust for Scotland will be given a free guide book to each National Trust for Scotland Property. This is packed full of information for making the most of your NTS membership. This includes facilities at each NT property such as toilets, parking, disabled access, shops, restaurants, directions, facilities for visually impaired visitors and mobility impaired visitors and any holiday accommodation.

Most of the National trust for Scotland Aberdeen properties have a cafe or restaurant that serves hot meals, snacks, cakes and drinks. For example Haddo House sells home made cakes and sandwiches and hot soup whilst Castle Fraser sell a wide selection of cooked meals and desserts.

Located next to the restaurants are shops that sell a wide variety of NTS and NT souvenirs and keep sakes, postcards, books, stationery, cuddly toys, games, soft furnishings and gifts.

It is possible to pay a one of admission charge to a National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen Hall or Castle but if you are on holiday in Aberdeenshire or even throughout Scotland it is worth buying a membership to the National Trust. Membership gives you free admission to NT properties throughout the UK. This usually works out cheaper if you are to visit over three properties. You also get a free gift and several free months membership. Joining is easily done online and is often cheaper.

Membership to the National trust can be done individually, as a couple or as a family. There are offers for retired people and gift membership is available and is an ideal present for Christmas or a birthday. This includes a personal gift card and welcome pack.

Another alternative is to buy a discovery ticket for the NTS which gives the ticket holder unlimited access to NTS properties for a set period of three days, one week or a fortnight.

We also run the www.findextrawork.co.uk website where there is information about earning more money from a range of part time and full time jobs which can be done at home or out and about. Visit for more information.

The National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen work closely with schools and pupils throughout Aberdeenshire often visit local castles, halls and garden for an educational visit or school project.

National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen castles are often used for parties and weddings and a most common wedding venue is the picturesque Fyvie Castle or the fairytale looking Craigievar Castle.

National Trust for Scotland Cottage

National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen properties are available for hire for social or corporate events. In addition a member can rent out a National Trust for Scotland holiday cottage at a range of Scottish properties that also include lighthouse keepers cottages, crofts, apartments within castles and many historic buildings. These holiday accommodation are for self catering though towels, sheets, etc are provided. Open fires are stocked up for National Trust for Scotland cottage holidays in the winter. Period furniture is kept in the historic homes for visitors to enjoy and modern furniture such as cots and child safety gates are provided so that you can relax and enjoy your National Trust for Scotland holiday.

Such holiday accommodation ranges from sleeping 2 to 30 people. It is advised to book your NTS holiday as early as possible because they can get fully booked, especially at peak times such as the school holidays, summer and at Christmas or the New Year.

Black Prince Cruises

The National Trust for Scotland have a cruise ship called the Black Prince which has been used as an NTS holiday cruise ship since 1953. It has a crew strength of 200 staff and can accommodate up to 400 people. Most Black Prince cruises have a theme and onboard entertainment such as Aberdonians from the Scotland the What? team and the Orkney celebrity from Big Brother on channel 4 TV and panto star Cameron Stout.

Typically the Black Prince cruises sail twice a year with one week long cruise around Scotland and the Scottish Isles whilst a two week cruise goes abroad to various countries and destinations such as Oporto, Greenland, Reykjavik and St Petersburg. The Black Prince cruises depart and arrive at Scottish ports. The cruises often have themes and special interests and have a series of lectures from leading experts.

National Trust for Scotland Event

As part of the membership you will be notified of each National Trust for Scotland event in your area and NTS events nationwide. These include banquets, re-enactments, craft fairs, ghost walks, ghost hunting, steam fair, behind the scenes tours, open air theatre shows, concerts, live music, traditional Scottish entertainment, murder mystery events and special dinners.

National Trust for Scotland Volunteer

Do consider becoming a National Trust for Scotland volunteer to help support the NTS Scotland. Activities and jobs include working as a guide for the NT, working in the shops or restaurants, administrative work, recruiting and event organisation.

There are also weekend and day projects that volunteers can get involved in such as working outdoors in the gardens or creating paths and woodland walks. You may not get paid for such work with the NTS but you will get company, experience, free transport and meals. The Thistle Camps are for longer projects and these working holidays involve volunteers working on conservation projects at the countryside properties of the National Trust for Scotland.

For the younger National Trust member there are summer camps called Trailblazers Camps. These are for 16 to 17 year olds and in between work teenagers can enjoy activities such as canoeing, go karting and sailing.

The National Trust for Scotland welcomes legacies and encourages members to consider them when making their will. More information can be found at the NTS web site nts.org.uk

National Trust for Scotland Properties

Listed below are the other Scottish National Trust for Scotland properties:

Dumfries and Galloway

Grey Mare's tail, Thomas Carlyle's Birthplace, Rockcliffe, Threave and Broughton House.

Scottish Borders

Robert Smail's printing works, Priorwood garden and dried flower shop, Harmony garden and St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve.

Edinburgh and the Lothians

House of the Binns, Newhailes, Mallery Garden, Inveresk Lodge Garden and Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot, No 28 Charlotte Square Edinburgh, The Georgian House, Gladstone's Land in the Lawnmarket of Edinburgh.

Fife

Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse and Garden, Falkland Palace and Garden, Royal Burgh of Culross and Kellie Castle and Garden.

Ayrshire and Arran

Goatfell, Brodick Castle Garden and Country Park, Bachelors' Club, Culzean Castle and Country Park and Souter Johnnie's Cottage.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley

Weaver's Cottage, Holmwood, Greenbank Garden, David Livingstone Centre, Kittochside The Museum of Scottish Country Life. The Tenement House in Glasgow at 145 Buccleuch Street Garnethill, Hutcheson's Hall and Pollok House.

Argyll, Bute and Loch Lomond

Arduaine Garden, Crarae Garden, The Hill House, Ben Lomond and Geilston Garden.

Central Scotland

Menstrie Castle, Ben Lawers, Moirlanich Longhouse, Dollar Glen, Alloa Tower, Bannockburn and The Pineapple.

Perthshire

Killiecrankie, Craigower, Linn of Tummel, The Hermitage, Dunkeld and Branklyn Garden

Angus

Barry Mill, JM Barrie's Birthplace, Camera Obscura, House of Dun and the Angus Folk Museum.

Lochaber

Glenfinnan Monument, Glencoe and Dalness.

West Coast Islands

St Kilda, Canna, Pabbay, Berneray, Mingulay, Staffa, Burg and Iona.

Ross-shire

Inverewe Garden, Corrieshalloch Gorge, Torridon, Falls of Glomach, Balmacra Estate and Lochalsh Woodland Garden, Kintail and Morvich.

Inverness, Nairn, Moray and the Black Isle

Miller House and Hugh Miller's Cottage, Culloden and Brodie Castle.

Northern Islands

Unst, Yell and Fair Isle

Jobs with the National Trust for Scotland

There are various jobs with the National Trust for Scotland and more information is available directly with the NTS.

Address for the National Trust for Scotland:

The National Trust for Scotland
Wemyss House
28 Charlotte Square
Edinburgh
Scotland
United Kingdom
EH2 4ET

National Trust for Scotland phone number - (0131) 243 9300

Official National Trust for Scotland website: www.nts.org.uk

Events at NTS Scotland in Aberdeenshire

Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December 2007 - Annual Christmas Fair at National Trust for Scotland Haddo House from 10am until 4pm. Children can go in for free and adult tickets are £2. The Haddo House tearoom will be open from 11am until 4:30pm.

Friday 16 December 2007 Musical Evening in the Library of Haddo House from 7:30pm. Operatic and Mozart arias will be sung by Janet De Vigne. Tickets cost £15 and students and children under 16 years are £12. Adult tickets include wine and canapes. This is a popular event and needs to be booked by calling telephone number 0844 4932179.

In addition to those listings of events at NTS Scotland in Aberdeenshire Crathes Castle will be open during the winter from 10am until 4:30pm.

Saturday 13 October 2007 at the House of Dun a performance by Isobel Luke Wind Octet.

Saturday 14 October 2007 at Fyvie Castle a Piano Promenade from 2 to 4pm.

From Wednesday 17 to Sunday 28 October Castle Fraser is holding a Batty Halloween National Trust for Scotland event where children can try out some bat crafts during the half term school holiday.

Wednesday 17 October Crathes Castle hold a regular National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen event of a ranger guided walk though this one is aimed specifically for children and will include a talk along the walk about natural recycling. From 2:30pm until 4pm.

Wednesday 17 October 2007 at Fyvie Castle hosts the Discovery Club from 10am until midday. Costs £4 per child.

Thursday 18 October 2007 The Magical World of Fyvie at Fyvie Castle from 9:30am to 3:30pm. This National trust for Scotland Aberdeen event is just for children aged from 8 years to 12 years.

Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October 2007 from 1pm to 5pm - Autumn wildlife watch National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen event at Drum Castle near Drumoak, Aberdeenshire. Join the NTS Aberdeen as they celebrate Autumn, the changing environment and how it affects the wildlife. This includes a squirrel tea party, how to make a hedgehog from pine needles, a demonstration of leaf sculptures, how to spot wildlife and creepy stories.

Saturday 29 September 2007 - Haddo House Italian Concert of Vivaldi's Gloria and Rossinin's Messe Solennelle at the Haddo House Hall. Tickets to this National Trust Scotland Aberdeen event is £16 or £12 with concessions available.

Sunday 23 September 2007 - House of Dun Apples and Pears National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen event with a plant sale at the Angus Members centre. Entrance is free.

Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September 2007 - Covenanters at Drum Castle National Trust Scotland Aberdeen with the re-enactment of 17th century Hugh Fraser's Dragoons from noon until 5pm.

16 September 2007 - Crathes Castle Ranger guided walk for adults which will explore the fungi and give facts and fiction on toadstools and fungus. This National trust For Scotland Aberdeen event is aimed at beginners with a £2 discount for NTS members.

16 September 2007 - Fyvie Castle family fun day which includes a parade of knights and ladies. Visitors can try on medieval costumes which also includes chainmail and helmets, Children at this National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen event can design their own coat of arms and all the family can watch a historical medieval reenactment from the Schiltron group. There will also be magic shows, face painting, fairground rides and games and children's magic.

8,9,15,16,22,23 September 2007 - Bulb sale and organic produce for sale at the potting shed of the walled garden of Castle Fraser, NTS Scotland from noon to 4:30pm.

Sunday 9 Septmebr 2007 at Mar Lodge a leisurely walk in Glen Lui entitiled From bears to backpacks: A look at our changing landscape. This is classified at a National trust for Scotland mid level walk.

Sunday 9 September 2007 Beating the retreat Scottish Pipe Band Music performed by the Gordon Highlander's Association Drums and Pipes at Crathes Castle near Banchory, Aberdeenshire.

See the About Aberdeen Events page for more National Trust for Scotland Aberdeen events.