Crathes Castle is the main reason many travellers come to Banchory. The 16th-century tower house has the thick-walled, turreted look people hope for in a Scottish castle, but the gardens are just as important: yew hedges, borders, old trees, and estate paths that make it easy to turn the visit into a half-day.
Inside, look for the painted ceilings and family rooms rather than expecting a bare ruin. Outside, leave time to walk the grounds, especially in late spring and summer when the garden has the most colour.