Aberdour Castle and Gardens
ENTRY
from £4.50
WHERE
Burntisland
What it’s like
A part-ruined, part-roofed medieval castle to explore, with terraced gardens and a walled garden alongside.
Half of this castle still has its roof on, half is open to the sky, and you can see how it grew over the centuries by walking through both. Kids who like poking into old rooms and working out what a space used to be for will get on with it, and there's enough ruin about the place to make it feel properly old rather than tidied up for visitors. Outside, the terraced gardens and walled garden give you somewhere to wander once the castle's done, which for a lot of families won't take much more than an hour.
The catch with the castle itself is the small steps and raised thresholds throughout, so if you've got a buggy or a wobbly toddler you'll be carrying more than you'd like. The terraced garden and orchard are worse for this, reached only by steps or a steep grass bank, so that bit's really for kids who can manage the climb themselves. Wheelchair users get level access to reception, the shop and the walled garden, but the castle interior and terraced garden are a harder ask.
It shuts for lunch between 12:30 and 1:30pm, which is easy to forget and annoying if you turn up right on the dot, so plan around it. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing in summer and 45 minutes in winter, and it's closed on Thursdays and Fridays over the winter months entirely.
Booking online saves you money and gets you a discount code worth having. Turn up car-free, on foot from the train station or by bike, book with the code GOOD25 and you get 25% off admission. Parking at the castle itself is limited and largely kept for mobility needs, so if you're driving it's worth the five minute walk from Aberdour station instead, which also has direct trains to Edinburgh and Perth.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 30 minutes before closing (summer), 45 minutes (winter)
- Parking
- Limited parking at Aberdour railway station (5 minute walk)
- Wheelchairs
- Up to two carers free per transaction
- Dogs
- Welcome in outdoor areas
- Getting there by bus or train
- Aberdour train station 5 minute walk (services to Edinburgh and Perth)
- Parties
- Venue available for wedding ceremonies and photography
- Worth knowing
- Book online with code GOOD25 for car-free visit and receive 25% discount on admission
- Lunch closure runs 12:30pm to 1:30pm, so time your arrival around it
- Last entry is 30 minutes before closing in summer, 45 minutes in winter
- Book online with code GOOD25 for a car-free discount of 25% off
- The venue also hosts wedding ceremonies and photography, so it may be busy with that on occasion
- There's a picnic area if you fancy bringing your own food
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£7.50 for an adult booked online, £8.50 on the door. Kids aged 7 to 15 are £4.50 online, £5 in person, and under-7s aren't listed as a separate price.
Do we need to book ahead?
No, you can just turn up. Booking online is worth it anyway because it's cheaper and unlocks the car-free discount.
Is there parking?
It's limited at the castle and mainly kept for mobility needs, so call ahead if that's you. Otherwise it's a five minute walk from Aberdour train station.
What's this car-free discount about?
Book online with the code GOOD25 and turn up on foot or by bike, and you get 25% off admission.
Is it OK for a pushchair?
The castle interior has small steps and raised thresholds, so it's a faff with a buggy. The terraced garden is only reachable by steps or a steep grass bank.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Reception, the shop and the walled garden have level access, but the castle interior and terraced garden don't. Two carers get in free per transaction, and the nearest adapted toilet is 500 metres away at the railway station.
How long does a visit take?
Most people are looking at an hour or two between the castle and the gardens.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 4:30pm from April to September, and 10am to 4pm from October to March on Monday to Wednesday and weekends. It's closed Thursdays and Fridays over winter, and shut from 24 December to 4 January.
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