Prince Albert's Cairn: The Beautiful Balmoral Woodland Walk
Today’s location, Prince Albert’s Cairn is a really special place. When I show photos of it to clients on my tours. They repeatedly say “Wow, Scotland has a Pyramid!” If that’s what you would like to call it then yes we do!
Nestled in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, Prince Albert’s Cairn is part of the Balmoral Estate, which has been famously owned by the Royal Family for generations. This striking monument was built as a heartfelt tribute to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s beloved consort, who had a deep love for the Scottish Highlands and played a significant role in the royal family’s enduring connection to this landscape.
In recent years, this location has taken on even greater historical significance. Queen Elizabeth II spent her final days at Balmoral, making her the first British monarch to pass away in Scotland since James V in 1542. This moment in history has only deepened the estate’s royal legacy, drawing even more visitors eager to explore its storied past. But most travelers don’t make it to the Balmoral’s hidden gem, Prince Albert’s Pyramid.
In this post, we’ll delve into the fascinating history behind Balmoral Castle and Prince Albert’s Cairn, uncovering their royal significance. We’ll also provide practical travel tips, whether you’re arriving by car or public transport, and guide you through the beautiful walk to the cairn itself – where breathtaking landscapes and Highland wildlife await.
Prince Albert’s Cairn
The Balmoral Castle: Queen Victoria’s First Love
The Balmoral came into the hands of the Royal Family through Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. They both fell in love with Scotland when they first visited Perthshire in 1842 staying at Taymouth Castle as guests of the Lord of Breadalbane. If you take a look at photos of this grand castle its not quite the usual AirBnB experience.
5 years later now searching for a retreat in the highlands they headed further north to Ardverikie House (which funnily enough played a role in the “The Crown” as the Balmoral Castle). They stayed here for three weeks, they were quite impressed but instead of taking the lease they opted for the Balmoral without even seeing it, preferring the idea of a drier and more easterly Deeside.
4 years later it officially became a royal residence as Prince Albert purchased the Balmoral for £32,000 in 1852 (roughly around £4 million today), as a gift for his wife. It was not only Victoria that loved the “dear paradise” but the prince felt a strong connection to it, as its landscape reminded him of his native Germany. I can personally see why as the surrounding area is absolutely spectacular. Definitely fitting for a King or Queen.
Balmoral Castle Viewpoint
What is a Cairn? Why is Prince Albert's Cairn Significant?
For those unfamiliar with the term, you might be wondering – what exactly is a cairn? At its core, a cairn is simply a human-made pile of stones. That may sound straightforward, but these structures hold far more meaning and significance than you might imagine.
The earliest evidence of cairns dates back to the Bronze Age, when they were used to mark ancient burials. A remarkable example of this is Nether Largie South in Kilmartin Glen, a burial cairn created over 3,500 years ago. Over time, cairns have taken on different roles – some serving as navigational markers, often found at the summits of mountains, guiding travellers and mountaineers through Scotland’s Highlands. Others have been built as memorial cairns, honouring significant people or events.
One of the most striking memorial cairns in Scotland is Prince Albert’s Cairn, located on the Balmoral Estate. Dedicated to Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, this imposing pyramid-shaped structure is arguably the most impressive of them all. The inscription on the cairn with a wonderfully heartfelt message reads: “To the beloved memory of Albert the great and good Prince Consort. Erected by his broken-hearted widow Victoria R. 21st August 1862.”
But this is just one of many. Scattered across the Balmoral Estate, you’ll find 15 more cairns, each with its own story. These include the Purchase Cairn, marking the acquisition of the estate, as well as cairns commemorating the marriages of Victoria and Albert’s children, one honouring Victoria’s mother, and another celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Prince Albert’s Memorial
How to get to the Balmoral Estate and Scotland's Pyramid
The quickest and easiest way to reach Balmoral Estate from Glasgow or Edinburgh is, quite simply, by car. The journey takes around 2 hours and 40 minutes from either city, but this isn’t just a drive. It’s an experience in itself.
Leaving the city behind, you’ll pass Meikleour, home to the world’s tallest hedge, before heading into the breathtaking landscapes of the Cairngorms National Park. As the road winds through the rolling mountains of Glenshee, keep an eye out for herds of red deer grazing on the hillsides. One of Queen Victoria’s favourite things about the area. It is a truly iconic sight in this part of Scotland. Eventually, you’ll arrive in the charming town of Braemar, nestled in the heart of the Highlands.
Braemar welcomes visitors with two particularly intriguing buildings. The first is the striking white fortress of Braemar Castle, the historic seat of Clan Farquharson. The second, more unusual landmark is the Great North Railway building – a relic of a railway line that was never built. This abandoned project tells an interesting story about Balmoral’s remoteness. It’s believed that when the line was proposed in the 1860s, one of the key reasons it never materialised was to prevent overtourism and preserve Queen Victoria’s privacy at Balmoral Castle. As a result, even today, public transport options to the estate remain limited, making driving the most practical way to visit.
Braemar Castle
That said, if you prefer to travel by public transport, it is possible—though it does require a bit more time and planning. The fastest route is to take a train to Aberdeen, followed by the 201 bus to Crathie, the nearest stop to Balmoral Estate. In total, the journey takes around five hours one way, making it a long but scenic trip.
Given the travel time, it’s well worth considering an overnight stay in or around Aberdeen before continuing your journey. This allows you to explore more of the regions epic castles like Castle Fraser, Dunnottar and Slains as well as the coastline cliffs.
Hiking to Scotland's Pyramid
Once you arrive at the Crathie Car Park, rather than trying to find the location of “Scotland’s Pyramid” using google maps. The best way is to use the route through Walkhighlands. Walkhighlands is so useful I would go as far as saying it is the hiking bible of Scotland. It is free to use, they provide the exact google maps location for parking and you can download the offline map onto most hiking apps.
The hiking trail which is detailed is absolutely tremendous taking you on one of the best woodland walks in Scotland. Along the way you will pass the Royal Lochnagar Distillery, spot wildlife including Red or Roe Deer (usually early morning), enjoy one of the most beautiful viewpoints of Deeside and the Balmoral castle. It is worth noting that it isn’t easy. The whole circuit of 9.5km (6 miles) climbs up 371m requiring a little extra effort to get to. You can cut the route down but climbing to Prince Albert’s pyramid is the hardest part of the walk. But I can guarantee on a none misty day it is very much worth the walk!
Prefer to take a tour to Prince Albert's Cairn?
If you would prefer to access the Balmoral Castle and Prince Albert’s Cairn through one of my guided tours in 2025 I have two group tours with spaces available. A tour in May explores the highlands as well as the Isle of Mull, Islay and Staffa, the other in October venturing to the iconic Isle of Skye. If this isn’t what you are looking for? Contact me for a bespoke experience through my contact form.
