Restored Craigievar Castle reopens to public

Craigievar Castle now has a distinctive pink shade

A 17th Century Aberdeenshire castle has reopened to the public following a two-year £500,000 facelift to return it to its original look.

The National Trust for Scotland's popular Craigievar Castle, near Alford, now features a traditional lime-based alternative to concrete-based harling.

Experts said the trust had now returned the castle to what would have been its original shade of pink.

The castle reopening follows two years of improvements.

Hundreds of paintings have been rehung and hundreds of artefacts put back in their place.

Meanwhile, Drum Castle, near Banchory, also reopens for the season on Saturday.