Tarves: Cultural History and Trails

If you’re looking for a hotel in Tarves, you can choose your destination based on two specific themes: local history and the walking and hiking trails around the village. Tarves Heritage Centre, Tarves Tomb and Tolquhon Castle represent different historical points of interest; trails and the village’s character offer further perspectives. Tolquhon Castle is about two miles south of Tarves.

Cultural History in Tarves

Tarves Heritage Centre is partly housed in a Victorian school building dating from 1837. The centre includes various records relating to oral history. This brings together two distinct themes: the history of a school building and stories passed down orally. You can take this connection into account as a cultural focus when planning your trip, without treating the building’s history and oral tradition as one and the same.

Another point of interest is Tarves Tomb. It was built in 1589 in memory of William Forbes, the 7th Laird of Tolquhon, and his wife, Elizabeth Gordon. The monument contains portrait statuettes of the laird and his wife and is considered an especially fine, well-preserved example of Scottish Renaissance sculpture. Its date, dedication and sculptural work make the Tomb a clearly defined subject within Tarves’s history.

A second historical date takes us to Tolquhon Castle: William Forbes, the seventh Laird of Tolquhon, had the castle rebuilt between 1584 and 1589. For the Tomb, 1589 marks its construction; for the castle, it marks the end of the stated rebuilding period. Both dates relate to William Forbes, but describe different buildings and occasions. This distinction helps you understand the memorial and the castle as separate stops in the area’s history.

The Village and Its Trails

The character of the Tarves Conservation Area is shaped by the Square, the churchyard and the various paths that lead out from this central area. There are also various walking and hiking trails around Tarves. This lets you distinguish two aspects when planning your trip: the paths that lead out from the central area and help shape the village, and the walking and hiking options around Tarves. If you’re planning to follow a particular trail, check the route details before your trip.

These trails complement the historical points of interest by offering another way to experience Tarves. This can make a difference when choosing your destination: perhaps you’re mainly interested in understanding the area’s history, or perhaps you’re more drawn to walking and hiking routes. The specific themes are different, but they overlap in their connection to the village and its surroundings.

Tolquhon Castle South of Tarves

Tolquhon Castle is about two miles south of Tarves, just off the B999. Its approximate distance and location south of the village give you a sense of the area when planning your trip. The castle is a nationally important 16th-century building; its rebuilding under William Forbes between 1584 and 1589 adds a specific timeframe to this context.

West of Tolquhon Castle and its outer courtyard lie the remains of a formal garden. There are old yew trees and traces of former paths. These features complement the building’s history with the design of its grounds: the yews and traces of paths point to the different elements of the former garden. To understand the site, it’s worth considering the castle and the garden remains as separate but geographically connected features.

century and traces of a formal garden. The trails around Tarves offer a different way to plan your trip. You can choose your destination based on whether historic buildings, the character of the village, or walking and hiking trails matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Newburgh, Fordyce, Mintlaw, Peterhead, Banff, Whitehills, Kincardine O'Neil, Insch.

For the broader travel guide: Aberdeenshire.