Jean says: We took the number 263 bus to Cruden Bay to see Slains Castle which inspired Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. He'd visit the castle and then headed off to the Kilmarnock Pub for a pint where he would write up his ideas. We wanted to follow in his footsteps but in reverse, so pub first and then castle.
After checking out the historical value of the pub, we walked a mile to the castle along a rough track, and found it perched on the edge of a cliff, completely open to the public. How refreshing it was to find that not only was there no visitor centre or charge to see it, but there were no concessions to health and safety either. There were no barriers, no danger notices, no legal warnings or yellow and black tape. There were wobbly walls, dodgy arches, teetering turrets, precarious pathways and deep and treacherous precipices. The castle was virtually hanging over the edge of the cliff. We could have been back in Belgium.
We found the castle gratifyingly spooky, and we're puzzled why it's potential as a tourist destination hadn't been exploited at all. We really enjoyed the freedom of being able to wander around something so old, dramatic and historically interesting that has been left to its own devices. We'll eventually get over the disappointment of not being able to buy a Dracula tea towel or a crucifix fridge magnet.

Slains Castle




I may be smiling, but this place gives me the creeps.....



In need of a bit of interior decoration