The castle is very much off the beaten path, but close enough to major cities. It lies about 2 hours north of Scotland's capital by train, close to the seaside town Stonehaven. From Stonehaven it is a scenic hike along the north sea coast which takes about 45 minutes. I had a great time, but the weather during Scottish summer is far too is far too unpredictable and we literally had all four seasons in one day - though being soaked was worth it!