2 June: Blair Castle

Blair Castle

Much later than originally planned, we finally arrived at Blair Castle and we immediately went inside to inspect yet another magnificent castle. Blair Castle has grown and developed throughout the centuries as the times have changed around it. The earliest known part of the present castle dates from 1269 and is known as Cumming’s Tower.


Blair Castle opened its doors to the public in 1936, one of the first great houses in Britain to do so.

Inside the breathtakingly beautiful castle

Our self guided tour took us through a grand total of 30 rooms, I don't think we've been through that many rooms in any other castle. The grandeur was present in every room of the castle, so for this blog I've had to choose just a few highlights from this majestic castle.

I recommend taking a look at the pictures from inside the castle on Undiscovered Scotland's website. The interior is truly breathtaking, but as is often the case when one tries to photograph something truly stunning, the photographs only give a bleak impression of its true magnificence.

If you have the time, the video below gives you an even better impression of the house's grandeur.

Built to impress: The Entrance Hall and the Picture Staircase

Our first stop was the impressive entrance hall, its beautiful wood panelled walls covered  by muskets and swords. Weapon displays were a feature of the Scottish Baronial style, but this one even includes targes (shields) and muskets which were used at the famous Battle of Culloden in 1746.

As in many other Scottish castle, the staircase forms a family portrait gallery. The staircase was completed in 1756, as part of the Georgian remodelling scheme.With its high ceiling and huge portraits you feel quite humble. Another impressive detail is that at first sight the walls appear to be panelled, but they were actually formed in plasterwork. 

Grand rooms: The Dining Room and the Drawing Room

The Dining Room was very beautiful and distinct, with its pastel green walls and fine plasterwork.On the beautiful dark, wooden dining table was a sample of the local Glen Tilt marble, used as a mount for a silver stag presented as a wedding gift to the 7th Duke and Duchess in 1888. At one time marble used to be quarried in nearby Glen Tilt, but imperfections in the stone and difficulties of transport made it uneconomic.

After the Ballroom, the Drawing Room is the largest room in the castle and represents the pinnacle of the 2nd Duke’s aspirations to grandeur. With its red walls, huge portraits, fine plasterwork and beautiful furniture, it's impossible not to be impressed.

Tapestry from an executed king

The stunning tapestry room contains the Mortlake Tapestries that once belonged to King Charles I and were sold after the king’s execution. They were discovered in Paris and purchased by the 1st Duke who brought them to Blair Castle to hang in this room which forms part of the ancient Cumming’s Tower.

The splendid four poster bed  in the tapestry room is hung with fine red silks and is quite striking with its ostrich feathers rising from each corner post. I wouldn't mind sleeping in a bed like that one, provided there were no bedbugs in it of course.

The Ballroom

Commissioned by the 7th Duke for the annual gathering of the Atholl Highlanders and completed in 1876, this grand ballroom is essentially Scottish in style and setting, and remains unchanged today.

The grand ballroom with its high vaulted ceiling and numerous stag horns, oozes of tradition and testosterone. The room is still used for its original purpose and for many Highland balls, wedding receptions, corporate hospitality and private dinners.

The tranquility of the gardens

With so many rooms to see and such difference in pace and interest, we soon split up, allowing the boys to find answers to the 'Castle Detectives Challenge' and then run over to the Woodland Adventure Playground, while we strolled through all the impressive rooms. When I, as the last of our group, finally re-appeared at the end of the tour, we all walked over to the sunny gardens.

We started off at Diana's Grove, a tranquil wooded area adjacent to the castle, which affords a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the county’s finest and tallest trees in a space of just two acres. It is also the home of a Grand Fir, the UK’s second tallest tree at 62.70 metres.

From Diana's Grove we walked over to the Hercules Garden, a nine acre walled garden running along both sides of a large lake. Named after the life-sized statue of Hercules which overlooks the garden, it incorporates landscaped ponds, a folly, a Chinese bridge and an impressive orchard of more than 100 fruit trees. The glory of this garden in summer are the herbaceous borders which run along the 275m south-facing wall.

At the east end of the garden was a small display where I, among other things, was fascinated by photos of people in the 19th century (if I remember correctly) playing curling on the ice-covered pond. It looked like great fun.

With a beautiful, sunny day and tranquil surroundings we took our time in the garden, knowing very well that it would be way past bedtime for the boys by the time we were home, but also knowing that it would be well worth it this weekend too.

Highland cows - again

When finally were ready to head home, I discovered some Highland cows grazing on a field next to the road. The homeward journey was slightly delayed once more, as I just HAD to take some (more) photos of these magnificent creatures!