Infamous Slain’s Castle helped to provide Bram Stoker with the inspiration to create his masterpiece called Count Dracula. Nowadays it is a ruin, which has been left for nature to run its course, it may not be the prettiest of ruined castles to visit in Scotland. But never the less it is worth visiting, it has for some inexplicable reason been left to slowly erode by the local council, and all the other agencies which should be doing a lot more to save this historic ruin.

Slain’s castle is located beside Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire, which is of course in Scotland. It is a majestic ruin which sits atop sea facing cliffs looking out to the wild North Sea. Slain’s Castle was originally built around 1597, by the 9th Earl of Errol. The castle was sold in 1916 after over 300 years of occupation by the Errol’s to a shipping tycoon, who took the roof off it in 1925 to avoid paying taxes.

If you dare to visit Slain’s Castle when it starts to get dark, you will understand why this eerie place provided the inspiration behind Count Dracula, Bram Stoker referred to Slain’s Castle as “the castle of the dead”, and for a very good reason!

It may be overgrown with weeds and grass, but as you walk along the ruined corridors, you still get a sense of the great grandeur which this vast place once had . For the truly adventurous you can still easily climb up one of the towers, but you have to brave and sure of foot. The dramatic views from the edge of the cliffs provide some fantastic scenery.

Slain’s Castle had the potential to be a top drawer tourist attraction, but through the short sightedness of the Local Council and various agencies such as Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland who all decided to forsake it, its true potential has never been released.

Unbelievable the blind local councilors have allowed this famous ruin to be turned into holiday apartments, it could only happen in Scotland! Maybe Count Dracula will have the last laugh and there will be a lot of blood sucking late at night.

Go and visit this infamous ruin while you can and see where the legend of Count Dracula began.  A story about one man and his accounter with the Prince of Darkness at Slain’s Castle, Most Haunted Slains Castle, I Swear That I Could See Dracula Watching Me!