The Castle of Mey

When we set off on this journey, we knew it would be fairly long. We had not realised that the weather being so poor would mean that quite a stretch would be done in dreadful visibility due to low cloud. It was not the ideal driving weather, but in the end we got there.

The Castle of Mey is famous because it was the favourite home of the late Queen Mother.
Since her death it has become a popular tourist attraction, and many of the guides and farm staff still fondly remember the Queen Mother.
There are some links at the end of the blog if you wish more detailed information.

After the death of her husband, the Queen Mother was advised to find a place far fromLondon where she could have some peace and quiet.
In 1952, while staying nearby, she first visited the castle, then known as  Barrogill Castle. It was somewhat delapidated, but the Queen Mother decided this was the place she wanted to have.
So she bought and then began its restoration, and she was to spend many a happy summer up here in the most notherly lived in Castle in the United Kingdom.

The castle has a long history.

It was originally built by the 4th Earl of Caithness for his son William. William was murdered by his brother John, who had been a prisoner of his father for 6 years. John was then murdered and the castle passed to the third son George Sinclair. He began the Clan Sinclairs of Mey, and renamed the castle to Barrogill. It became the seat of the Earls of Caithness.
The 15th Earl died childless and passed the castle to a friend on condition he changed his name to Sinclair.
The widow of this man finally sold the castle to a Captain Imbert-Terry. It was he who sold it to the Queen Mother.

The castle still has a royal connection, as Prince Charles visits at least once a year and rents it for a few days.

It makes for an interesting visit. There is a farm to see, some photographs and film, and there is a very pleasant tea room.

The Castle of Mey is only a few miles from John O' Groats, and the furthest point north in the UK -Dunnet Head.

The Castle of Mey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Mey
http://www.castleofmey.org.uk

Castle of Mey

Lighthouse at Dunnet Head