Braemar Castle, Braemar

Braemar Castle, built in 1628 with additions in 1748 and internal modifications in the mid-19th century, is an L-plan tower house featuring a five-storey round tower at the re-entrant angle, crenellated angle turrets, and is surrounded by a star-shaped crenellated military curtain wall. It is prominently located on a raised mound on the south side of the River Dee and constructed from harled granite.

The castle exhibits a variety of window styles, with some retaining 17th century iron grilles. There is a mix of timber sash and case windows, as well as casement windows, with some having 12 panes and others featuring a 4-pane lower section and a 12-pane upper section. Broad stacks rise from the gables.

Inside, the castle largely retains the floor plan of an 18th century garrison on the lower floors and a 19th century home on the upper floors, complete with many original features. The main entrance has a yett gate, and there is a stone turnpike stair with timber panelling. The interior is adorned with well-detailed decorative cornicing and classical chimneypieces in the larger public rooms. Timber three-panel doors are present, along with simple tiled chimneypieces in the upper rooms. The basement includes vaulted rooms, one of which has a grill entrance to a pit prison below.

Additionally, there is a round rustic timber summerhouse with a conical thatched roof located to the west of the castle, and to the north, there are single-storey timber cottages that predominantly feature timber sash and case windows.