Balmoral Castle and Royal Deeside Tour This tour runs April to October. Balmoral is only open April to July, but come August we swap in the amazing Corgarff Castle instead. The tour also visits Crathie Kirk, and the thriving mountain town of Braemar. The day’s last visit can be your choice of the Royal Lochnagar Distillery, or the gift & coffee shop called the Whisky Castle in Tomintoul, where you can also taste a dram, if that is your thing.