Bram Stoker spent a lot of time vacationing in the area of Cruden Bay and the ruins of Slains Castle
are reputed to have inspired the castle in "Dracula". This castle is located close to the village ? only a about a kilometre away, so you can easily walk to it when you are holidaying in Grampian. If you want to drive to this area, there is a car park just off the A975.
Slains Castle is perched on the top of the cliffs looking out over the North Sea. The original castle was built in 1597 around an existing tower house and was owned by the 9th Earl of Erroll. Over the centuries, there has been significant reconstruction and repairs of the castle, with the roof being removed in 1925. The 19th Earl of Errol entertained many celebrities here in the late 1800?s with Bram Stoker being one of them.
When you visit Slains Castle, you won?t find any marked areas pointing the way. This is because of the danger of falling over the cliffs, so you walk about the area at your own risk. The front of the castle is directly on the edge of the cliff and at the back of the castle, you can see what used to be the gardens. They are difficult to get to being protected as they are by a deep cleft in the cliffs. The interior of the castle appears to be just a series of hallways and outside in the courtyard, visitors are hard pressed to distinguish the inside form the outside.
Everything about Slains Castle gives you a creepy feeling, leaving no doubt as to what inspired Bram Stoker. There is a sort of vault or cellar that has storage bins along the wall and a muddy slide to get to the bottom. Even the historians are not sure what this area was used for.
Slains Castle is different from the other castles in Scotland. While the other castles are under the direction of the Historic Trust of Scotland, this one is not. There is a possibility that the castle will be made into 35 apartments, but there has been some debate as to whether this will take place.
A visit to Slains Castle is something that you should undertake with care because of the dangerous location. However, it is one place in the country where you won?t have any difficulty imagining yourself back in the times of the feuds between the clans.
Opening Times
Open all Year.
Admission
Admission Free.
