The concept of a 'staycation' may be a modern one, but the Queen has been way ahead of the trend for decades.
In fact every summer the monarch chooses to spend her holidays in Scotland, and there's one place where she always heads; her beloved Balmoral Castle .
The Queen and Prince Philip spend their summer months on the breathtaking estate in the Scottish highlands, where they're joined by various members throughout the season, who come to spend quality time together amidst their own hectic schedules.
Princess Eugenie previously opened up about her grandmother's love for Scotland on ITV documentary Our Queen at 90 , explaining: "It's the most beautiful place on earth. I think Granny is the most happy there, I think she really, really loves the Highlands…walks, picnics, dogs, a lot of dogs, there's always dogs, and people coming in and out all the time.
"Family-wise we're all there, so it's a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa to be – for us to come and see them up there where you just have room to breathe and run."
But how much do you know about the Queen's favourite summer spot? We take a look inside…
Where is Balmoral Estate?
Balmoral estate is nestled in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, between Ballater and Braemar. It's located approximately 50 miles west of Aberdeen.
The 50,000 acre grounds have access to a wide array of breathtaking landscapes from the Dee river valley to towering mountains and rolling green hills.
A working estate, Balmoral highlights include grouse moors, the lush green forests and farmland, as well as plenty of animals from the herds of deer to Highland cattle and ponies.
It's also home to Balmoral Castle, where the Queen and Prince Philip stay for their holidays.
When does the Queen stay at Balmoral?
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh usually head to Balmoral in July, when the castle closes its grounds to the public. They are known to stay in residence there until about October when they head back to Buckingham Palace.
The royal couple usually kick off their stay with a mini break of their own at the estate's sprawling seven-bedroom Craigowan Lodge, which sits about a mile from the castle itself.
Source: Read Full Article