Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Aberdeenshire New Slains Castle Ruins
AO Edited

New Slains Castle Ruins

The remains of a grand castle that may have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Added By
Shannon Moore Shepherd
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  fierystatehotel / Atlas Obscura User
A winding staircase to nowhere inside the remains of New Slains   fierystatehotel / Atlas Obscura User
View of North Sea from inside the castle ruins   fierystatehotel / Atlas Obscura User
New Slains Castle Ruins   fierystatehotel / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

All that's left now of New Slains Castle are segments of walls with the frames of large windows, stairways that go to nowhere, turrets falling to pieces, and other ruins of what was a palatial reconstruction of a 13th century castle.

The original castle was just a few miles away, but New Slains was constructed by the recently re-established Earl of Erroll in the 16th century. 

The castle ruins can be found by following the dry stone wall across open fields out of Cruden Bay, away from the quaint village tourism and grand golf courses. The castle remains loom over the silvery North Sea in the distance. Though this location is certainly no tourist attraction, travelers will find that when they finally reach the cliff side, the sea view is spectacular and exploration of architectural layers can fill an entire afternoon.  

Additionally, local lore goes that Bram Stoker visited the castle during a visit to Cruden Bay and may have in fact modeled Dracula's castle off the place. True or false, you can indeed find his name in the hotel ledger at the nearby Kilmarnock Arms.

Related Tags

Castles Ruins Bram Stoker Dracula

Know Before You Go

Take Castle Road one kilometer East out of Cruden Bay, then veer onto a short unmarked path Southeast to the cliffside of the North Sea. Take caution, cliffsides are open.

Alternatively, one can park at the Cruden Bay Public Car Park. It is located a block from the Kilmarnock Hotel and across from the Public Toilets. It is a 10-15 minute walk along a wooded area and coastline to the Castle. Note that spaces are limited and to be avoided on sunny weekends.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

fierystatehotel

Edited By

hrnick, SEANETTA

  • hrnick
  • SEANETTA

Published

November 2, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
New Slains Castle Ruins
New Slains Castle Ruins
Castle Road
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
United Kingdom
57.415209, -1.83243
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Aikey Brae Stone Circle

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

miles away

Strichen House

Strichen, Scotland

miles away

Strichen Stone Circle

Strichen, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire

Scotland

Places 5
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Aikey Brae Stone Circle

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

miles away

Strichen House

Strichen, Scotland

miles away

Strichen Stone Circle

Strichen, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire

Scotland

Places 5
Stories 1

Related Stories and Lists

17 Places That Are Odes to Poetry

List

By Roxanne Hoorn

14 Haunting Places in Literature

List

By Atlas Obscura

On the Vampire Trail: Slains Castle in Cruden Bay, Scotland

ruins

By Shannon Moore Shepherd

Related Places

  • Whitby Abbey

    Whitby, England

    Ruins of Whitby Abbey

    The gloomy ruins that inspired Bram Stoker to bring Dracula to life.

  • Wallachia, Romania

    Poenari Castle

    The legendary cliffside castle of three-time Voivode of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler.

  • Tynemouth Castle.

    Tynemouth, England

    Tynemouth Priory and Castle

    Royal burial place of the kings of ancient Britain.

  • Tharandt, Germany

    Tharandt Castle Ruin

    Near Dresden, a scenic medieval castle ruin offers atmospheric views, educational ties to forestry, and a glimpse into Saxony’s past.

  • Castle Mound.

    Cambridge, England

    Castle Mound

    This hill is all that remains of Cambridge’s former castle.

  • Lisnagrave, Ireland

    Dunlough Castle

    The eerie remains of one of Ireland's oldest castles, said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who brings ill fate.

  • Crawford Castle

    Crawford, Scotland

    Crawford Castle

    These crumbling ruins are all that's left of the ancestral home of Clan Crawford.

  • Besiekiery, Poland

    Besiekiery Castle Ruins

    These beautiful castle ruins are nestled in the Polish countryside.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.