Birkhall, Royal estate near Ballater, Scotland
Birkhall sits beside the River Muick south-west of Ballater in the Scottish region of Aberdeenshire and extends over forested ground and open slopes. A wire suspension bridge links both banks of the river and allows passage between different parts of the sprawling property.
The Gordon family built the house in 1715 and worked the property for several generations. Prince Albert purchased the holding in 1849 as an addition to nearby Balmoral Castle and incorporated it into the royal landholdings.
The gardens display clipped hedges and espaliered fruit trained against the walls, while a thyme-planted path runs from the house through the beds. Red roses grow in clusters along the walkways and give the outdoor space a well-tended character.
The crossing over the 1880 suspension bridge gives access to different areas of the property and provides insight into the historic infrastructure of the grounds. The paths lead through wooded sections and across open ground with changing views of the river and surrounding hills.
King Charles III has given names to the red squirrels on the grounds and regularly watches them play around the house. This personal connection to the local wildlife shows in the care taken with their habitats across the property.
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