In Pictures: Balmoral blanketed in snow as Scotland faces worst of the cold snap

More than 54 schools shut in the Highland Council region on Friday because of the snow and at least 27 more closed in Aberdeenshire.

By contributor By PA Reporters
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Balmoral Castle surrounded by a blanket of snow
Balmoral Castle blanketed in snow on Friday morning (Jane Barlow/PA)

Balmoral Castle has been covered in snow and ice as Scotland faces the brunt of the cold snap on Friday.

Temperatures reached as low as minus 6C at Tulloch Bridge on Thursday night.

The Met Office issued an amber alert for central-north Scotland and yellow warnings across the UK ahead of Storm Bert, which is set to arrive on Saturday and bring “heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend”.

Milk is left in the snow by the gate at the entrance to Balmoral Castle
Milk is left in the snow at the entrance to Balmoral Castle (Jane Barlow/PA)
A church in a forest covered in snow
Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral, is surrounded by snow and ice (Jane Barlow/PA)