Aberdeenshire castle that inspired Walt Disney to reopen after restoration project

Ryan McDougall, PA Scotland

28 May 2024 at 9:08 am·2-min read

Craigievar Castle has undergone significant work for over a year — -Credit: (Image: Getty)

A “fairytale” castle said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle is to reopen to the public after undergoing a major 18-month renovation project which saw it swathed in pink mesh.

Craigievar Castle, in Aberdeenshire, closed in early 2023 in order to “futureproof” it against rain and climate change damage as part of its Pink Again restoration campaign.

The bright pink castle was covered in mesh seven stories high to mimic the pink harling which was being replaced.

The restoration is now complete and the renovated castle will reopen on Friday, May 31.

Dating to 1626, the castle is known for its pink exterior, 17th century plaster ceilings and artwork.

Staff and volunteers are re-installing the art collections ahead of the reopening.

The National Trust for Scotland warned that extreme weather conditions over the past decade had caused the building to deteriorate, but the restoration had given it a new lease of life.

Workers made small changes to the building’s detailing and slate roofs that mean it can better cast off rain and snow.

After repairs to the walls, stonemason specialists at Harper & Allan applied more than 13,000 litres of special recipe limewash to the building, before removing the last of the scaffolding.

The Pink Again project was funded by Historic Environment Scotland.

James Henderson, the National Trust for Scotland’s operations manager for Craigievar, said: “The fairytale castle is a global icon of Scottish heritage and a pink beacon for visitors.

“Our charity can’t wait to continue telling the story of Craigievar and we’re extremely proud that the National Trust for Scotland’s supporters and the project team have ensured that there are many more chapters to come.”

Animator Walt Disney is believed to have been inspired by Craigievar Castle’s pink exterior when he designed the company’s famous Cinderella castle, which also drew inspiration from other landmarks including Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.

Manchester Evening News
UK holidaymakers warned not to book a trip to Spain on these dates
Tourists could face transport disruption, large crowds and limited accommodation during national bank holidays
INSIDER
I spent every summer in Greece as a kid. Here are 7 places to visit that aren't Santorini, Mykonos, or Athens.
You can experience Greece's delicious food, incredible culture, and stunning beaches without ever setting foot in its packed tourist destinations.
The Telegraph
The 12 best British pubs saved from closure
It sometimes feels like there are more public houses in Britain than stars in the sky. But the fact is they are in steep decline, with at least one pub closing down every day in the past couple of years. Recent figures reveal a failure rate of 80 a month across England and Wales so far in 2024.
The Telegraph
Why you should visit Rhodes, the Greek island that’s craving British tourists
Rhodes, the sun-drenched jewel of the Dodecanese, boasts around 300 days of sunshine a year and from the magnificent architecture of the Old Town to the harbour where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood, the island captivates the senses as soon as you step off the plane. After the devastating fires of 2023, this Greek giant has risen like a phoenix from the ashes – more vibrant and welcoming than ever before.
Business Insider
A millennial shares why she left pricey San Francisco and settled in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it's 'much more accessible to buy a lovely larger-sized home'
Rachel Pohl spent years living in San Francisco but said she's "grateful to call Chattanooga home" now.
The Telegraph
The best restaurants in Rhodes
Brimming with olive groves, fruit trees and vegetable patches, verdant Rhodes offers up a delectable array of culinary offerings that ranges from firmly old school to five-star innovative. While the choice of quality establishments in the medieval Old Town is slim, there is a diamond or two to be found in the back alleys. A down-home taverna hidden in a remote village and a fine dining restaurant at a resort on the northeast coast are both striving to reawaken local dishes almost lost to time, a
The Guardian
Beach buried by eruption of Mount Vesuvius reopens to public after restoration
‘Extraordinary and unique’ ancient beach that was destroyed in AD79 disaster resurrected in southern Italy
The Telegraph
Why our obsession with the Cotswolds could be tarnishing the area’s beauty
So Taylor Swift is, reportedly, hunkering down in the Chipping Norton area this summer, escaping fans between gigs by renting a £3,000-a-night “secret” property. What a smart move, in all senses. She gets to enjoy picturesque peace and also taps into the British obsession that is the Cotswolds. But what is it with this area of central England – why the fixation, no longer only national but now global? From celebs descending, to residents in some honey-stone villages complaining of “overtourism”,
The Telegraph
The uncrowded alternatives to Stonehenge for the summer solstice
There are stone circles all over the world, from different eras and serving different purposes. Many of Europe's appear to be early astronomical observatories, their stones arranged to align with the sun during the solstices and/or equinoxes. In 2024, the summer solstice will occur on June 20, to mark midsummer; the longest day and shortest night of the year.
The Telegraph
Normandy: the cheaper, closer alternative to Switzerland
What was that? Ears tuned to the hedgerow, I strained to listen through my helmet. Cuck-oo. Yes! The sound of spring. The sound of Switzerland. Well, sort of. The cuckoo clock was actually invented in Germany. But given I wasn’t actually in Switzerland, it seemed appropriate none the less.
Bromley News Shopper
Greenwich has ‘one of the loveliest high streets’ in the UK
Greenwich’s High Street has been named as “one of the loveliest in the UK” in a list released by The Times.
Hello!
Carrie Johnson's son Wilf has the most incredibly wild hair in adorable video
Carrie Johnson couldn't be more besotted with her brood of three and showed off her son Wilf's incredibly wild hair in a candid video. See video.
Evening Standard
The biggest and best pub and beer gardens in London
Let’s take things outside
The Telegraph
The best family hotels in Greece
Forget the old saying ‘children should be seen but not heard’ – in Greece love of little ones is a given, and most staff in the country’s (extremely) family-friendly hotels will effortlessly go that extra mile to make sure that you and your brood have an enjoyable holiday. The best hotels have clubs catering for toddlers or teens, rosters teeming with child-friendly activities and sand-swathed beaches or sparkling pools. Parents can relax in cocooning spas or adults-only pools while their young
The Independent
Euro 2024 viewers shocked as Gary Lineker leaves Frank Lampard ‘fuming’ with ‘savage’ comment
Lineker has since admitted the joke ‘came out a bit wrong’
OK! Magazine
Prince Louis' sweet 6-word request to mum Kate - and her no-nonsense reply every parent will sympathise with
Prince Louis seemed to be in high spirits as he attended Trooping the Colour with his mother, the Princess of Wales, and his siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte
The Independent
A father caught a ride share driver assaulting his daughter. He took matters into his own hands
Her father tracked her phone to a well-known fishing spot
The Telegraph
France is about to bring the EU to the brink of collapse
It is a terrifying showdown, an epic moment of truth that threatens to blow up the EU, trigger another Eurozone crisis and, just three days into his prime ministership, throw Sir Keir Starmer’s immigration and trade plans into disarray. In two weeks’ time, France will have either elected the most radical Right-wing populist government ever to control a nuclear power, opted for a rabidly anti-capitalist, anti-Western, far-Left coalition, or proved itself to be entirely ungovernable.
Manchester Evening News
'What the f**k are you doing?': Road rage BMW driver stopped on M56 and jumped on bonnet of woman's car
'If somebody had been killed, I would be sending you to prison for a very long time indeed', he was told
The Telegraph
Starmer just made his first major misstep – bigger shocks lie ahead
It has taken over three weeks, but Sir Keir Starmer just made his first major misstep of the election campaign.

Latest stories