The castle was visited by Bram Stoker in 1894 and 1895, during which time he began writing his famous vampire novel.
Following the 1925 roof removal, the castle fell into significant structural decay and has remained a ruin since.
The original fortress on this site, Old Slains Castle, was demolished in 1594 by order of King James VI.
The current structure was known as New Slains Castle to distinguish it from the original coastal fortress destroyed centuries earlier.
The Earls of Erroll, who resided here, held the hereditary title of Lord High Constable of Scotland.
The site includes a dramatic 'sea cave' formation directly below the cliffs, accessible by a steep coastal path.
Slains Castle is an 16th-century ruin situated on the cliff edge overlooking the North Sea in Aberdeenshire. The site features the remains of a once-grand baronial mansion that was rebuilt and expanded by the 18th Earl of Erroll in 1837. It is widely believed that the castle’s octagonal hall and clifftop location inspired the setting for Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula. The structure was largely roofless by 1925, following the sale of the building and the subsequent removal of the lead roof to avoid taxation. The ruins consist of several distinct wings and courtyards, including the prominent remains of the great hall. The property is currently managed by Historic Environment Scotland, though the site remains an open-access ruin. It offers views of the Cruden Bay coastline and the rock formations below.
From the coastal path looking back at the eastern elevation to capture the scale of the remaining arched windows.
Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots as the grass near the cliff edges can be extremely slick and uneven.
Keep dogs on a lead at all times, as there are unprotected vertical drops directly from the ruins.
Bring windproof clothing, as the exposed coastal location experiences high winds year-round.
Do not wander off the marked coastal paths, as the cliff edges are prone to erosion and instability.
Do not climb on the loose masonry or unstable walls for personal safety and site preservation.
