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Drum Castle is 13 miles west of Aberdeen in
Scotland, 8 miles east of Banchory, built
from the 1200s for John Comyn, extended by Clan
Irvine from the 1300s.
You can visit 1st April until 31st October,
from 10.30 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. Weekends in
Winter. The Grounds are open all year. There is
an entrance fee. Postcode: AB31 5EY
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Camping & Touring Parks in
area
Visits allow you to view the Castle
Exterior, Tours of the Castle, climb to the top
of the 70ft Tower for views, Gardens, and there
is the large Mains of Drum Garden
Centre by the entrance to the Castle with a
Restaurant and Food Hall.
The image top is of Drum Castle entrance
showing the original Tower with later buildings
to the right.
The second image is from the Gardens,
showing the later buildings are ideally placed,
facing south to get the sun most of the
day.
Drum Castle History
1100s - Clan Irvine evolves in the south of
Scotland, in the same area as Clan Bruce, with
the two Clans having strong connections.
1200s - the earliest part of Drum Tower is
thought to have been built for John Comyn,
enemy of Clan Bruce. This is one of the oldest
such Towers in Scotland. Most fortified
buildings in Scotland before this time were
Forts built with wood.
1314 - Robert the Bruce led the Scots to
victory over the English at the Battle
of Bannockburn, leading to the English
accepting Bruce as King of Scotland. William Irvine
was one of the Kings most loyal followers.
Robert the Bruce then began taking Castles
and Estates from Scots Clans that tried to
prevent him becoming King, so as to award them
to Clans that fought with him.
1325 - Robert the Bruce granted Drum Castle
and Estate to William de Irwyn / Irvine. It is
thought William Irvine had the Tower heightened
at that time.
1619 - a large wing was added by the 9th
Laird. This wing has little defense, so the
Tower was retained for safety during times of
War.
1640s - the Covenanters Wars begin as most
Scots Clans rebel against King Charles I
Stuart, based in England, as he was trying to
control Scottish Churches.
The Irvine's of Drum Castle remained loyal
to the Stuart King, leading to Drum Castle
being fought over and captured by Covenanters
two times.
The end of a series of Wars at that time,
Covenanters, Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and
English Civil War, ended with the Stuart Kings
back in control of the Country.
1714 - Queen Anne Stuart died with her
second cousin, George I of the House of Hanover
in Germany, becoming king of Great Britain.
This led to a series of Jacobite Wars as Scots
Clans wanted a Stuart King, with these Clansmen
known as Jacobite's.
1746 - Alexander Irvine, 17th Laird of Drum,
fought with the Jacobite's at the Battle of
Culloden. After the defeat of the
Jacobite's, Alexander was captured with him
dying in an Edinburgh prison.
His younger brother Robert survived the
Battle, then hid in a secrete room in Drum
Tower to avoid capture by Government Troops.
This secret room was discovered in 2014.
The Battle of Culloden was the last major
Battle in Britain, with the Hanover Kings and
their descendants being the Monarchs of the
country to this day.
It is unclear how the Irvine's managed to
retain control of Drum Castle at that time, as
most Clans that fought with the Jacobite's at
Culloden, had their properties taken by the
Crown to be sold to the highest bidder.
Alexander is said to have hid in the Tower
for three years while his sister Mary ran the
Estate. Alexander is then said to have traveled
to France, living in Paris for a number of
years before being allowed back to
Scotland.
1875 - architect David Bryce added a new
entrance and hall for the Irvine's.
1975 - the death of the
24th Laird of Drum, Henry Quentin Forbes
Irvine, saw Drum Castle gifted to the National
Trust for Scotland as part of his will, so it
could be preserved as a tourist
attraction.
2009 - the Mains of Drum Garden
Centre opened on land at the entrance to Drum
Castle with a Restaurant and Food Hall.
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