Castle of Mey

Castle & Gardens of Mey Was The Queen Mother’s Favourite Home in Caithness

Castle of Mey, Caithness

Located between Thurso and John O’Groats, is the Castle of Mey, the northern-most castle on the UK mainland. Castle Mey is the favourite home of the Queen Mother when she visits Scotland and it is also the only home that she owned in her own right.

Our travel around Scotland has been graced with intermittent grey skies, rain and sunshine. Thankfully, the sun decides to re-appear during our stop at the Castle of Mey. We are fortunate to be able to see the castle in its magnificent setting on the Caithness Coast in the brilliance of the late afternoon light.

Castle Mey is not a big castle. Walking through some of the narrow corridors and spiral staircases, it becomes clear as to why it is necessary for a tour group of forty to be split into three smaller groups.

Lost Garden

Our visit begins at the walled garden, which was much loved by the Queen Mother. Behind the protection of the Great Wall of Mey is a beautiful and traditional Scottish garden full of beautiful and interesting flowers, fruit trees and herbs. All throughout the garden, the Queen Mother’s personal touch can be seen, from the greenhouse to the floral displays in the Shell Garden where she loved to sit.

The garden is very much a working garden and during the Queen Mother’s summer residence, the garden provides the fruit and vegetables for the kitchen as well as the flowers for the castle. I rubbed my fingers on some lemon thyme and the herb smell was so strong that it stayed with me when we visit the castle, so much so that I was concerned that the guide may be away that I had sniffed on the royal herbs. The gardens are definitely worth visiting and our only regret is not having more time to appreciate the hundreds of species of plants and beautiful flowers in it.

Castle of Mey Gardens

Castle Mey is a historic castle with spectacular views across the Pentland Firth towards Orkney. Built in the late 16th century oby George Sinclair, the 4th Earl of Caithness, it has been occupied by his descendants for over 300 years.

Castle Mey’s colourful history includes the dark deeds by its early owners as well as the eccentric activities of of later occupants such as the 14th Earl, who brought the first steam car to this part of Scotland in 1860.

The last Sinclair to live at Castle Mey was the 15th Earl of Caithness. When he died in 1889, the castle was bequeathed away from the Sinclair family. Queen Victoria bought it in 1952. She had just become a widow and wanted a place away from the public eye. She fell in love of Castle Mey at first sight.

When the Queen Mother bought the castle, it was in a bad state of repair. After significant reparation, she created a much loved holiday home which she has returned to every year until her death. Today, the castle is kept in the same way that the Queen Mother had left it. A tour of the castle gives visitors interesting insights into her personality, interests and love of life. The Queen Mother was known for her tacky tastes and the collectibles in the castle bear witness to this. The castle has a very homely feel, rather than a grand castle feel and it very much reminds of how one’s granny’s home might be. The knowledgeable guides make the visit quite enjoyable.

Castle Mey is held by the Queen Elizabeth Castle Mey Trust of which Prince Charles is the President. The Queen wanted the castle to be maintained by the Trust for the benefit of the local community.

Address:
Castle of Mey
Thurso
Caithness
Scotland
KW14 8XH
Map of Caithness: