Castle Country
Explore an area packed with beautiful architecture and breathtaking sea views
THE North East coastline is dotted with castles from Inverness to Thurso. Historic ruins and royal residences are numerous in the north, but Caithness and Sutherland boast some of the most magnificent.
If you follow the A9 north of Inverness, you will be treated to one of the most picturesque routes in Scotland. Hugging the coastline, you pass countless beautiful sites and landmarks – perhaps none more so than the decadent Dunrobin Castle.
This castle is not a building you would expect to find in Scotland. It resembles an intricate French château, with towering spires and manicured gardens.
Like most Scottish castles, Dunrobin was originally a defensive fortress, but in 1845 architect Sir Charles Barry, who designed the Houses of Parliament, was commissioned to remodel the entire castle and by 1851 the flamboyant building had a whole new look.
Dunrobin is one of Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited houses – home to the
Earls and then Dukes of Sutherland from the 13th century and Scott Morrison has the enviable role of managing it.
“Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses,” he says “and is currently home to the 25th Earl of Sutherland.
“Visitors can look around a number of rooms inside before walking around the formal gardens. In summer you can enjoy falconry displays and Dunrobin Museum, which houses artefacts gathered by the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland.”
The castle boasts 189 rooms and each is decorated with the decadence of Versailles, blended with a characteristic Scottish style. Heavy velvet curtains shadow the windows, the walls are adorned with gold-framed paintings, and gilt accents are found at every turn, but the tartan carpets, wood-panelled rooms and decorative antlers are unmistakably Scottish.
As you continue north onto the smaller winding roads of Caithness, you’ll find Castle Sinclair Girnigoe. Perched on a cliff just north of Wick, commanding a dramatic view of the North Sea, the largely ruined castle still holds an enormous amount of intrigue and history.
It is a little off the beaten track, but such a beautiful and historic site is well worth the detour.
Lord Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness is the head of Clan Sinclair and oversees the conservation of the castle, alongside sharing its fascinating history.
“Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is the only castle in Scotland to be listed by the World Monument Fund,” he says. “This unique ruin is spectacularly situated on a peninsula overlooking Sinclair Bay with cliffs on three sides and guarded by a moat on the landward side.
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A delicious lunch or piece of cake at the Castle of Mey’s quaint tearoom.
“Following a conservation and consolidation programme, it is open to the public throughout the year and there are interpretation panels explaining the castle and area. One can see how it was adapted from a Norse fortalice into a major defensive castle and home of the Earls of Caithness in the mid-15th century.
“Further alterations in the 16th and 17th centuries converted it into a luxurious home with the latest ‘mod cons’ of the day including a long gallery and wide square staircase. It was here the charter was granted to Jan de Groot to run a ferry to Orkney from what is now known as John O’groats.”
What remains of the castle is a wonder to see. Its unique positioning and views make it a beautiful place to visit and get a true sense of the area’s rich history.
Finally, perhaps one of the area’s most famous destinations, is the Castle of Mey. Standing at the very precipice of Britain, it is the most northerly inhabited castle in Scotland – it’s most notable previous resident being Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
Visitors can explore many rooms, including the Queen Mother’s sitting room. From the collection of Absolutely Fabulous videos by the television, to the bottle of Dubonnet on the drinks trolley, it remains largely untouched.
Within the grounds there is also an animal centre, where younger visitors will be delighted to meet Alice, the resident donkey. Don’t miss the magnificently feathered Buff Orpington chickens as well – a breed much beloved by the Queen Mother.
Whether you want to dive into the area’s history, or you would just like to appreciate some beautiful architecture, visitors to the North East are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to castles.
Dunrobin is the most northerly houses” of Scotland’s great