Delgatie
Yes, it’s another post about Scottish castles! I do seem to find it difficult to write anything without one, or three, as in this case. The first, above, is Delgatie Castle, near Turriff in Aberdeenshire. I met one of the quines there last week (post originally from 2016) and we walked the woods and gardens and encountered these little Shetland ponies looking as if they were waiting for the tearoom to open.
From there, we went on to the Auld Kirk-yard in Turriff to see the grave of the late owner of the castle, Captain John Hay:
And then, on the other side of Turriff, the beautiful River Deveron:
Let us pass through a door to another day and another castle…
Craigievar:
Near Alford, this beauty is rumoured to be the source for Walt Disney’s fairy-tale castle. It is wonderfully pink and turreted and full of colourful ghost stories. Red John Forbes is supposed to have forced his daughter’s lover, a Gordon and hence an enemy, to jump to his death from The Blue Room window. The window is now hidden behind a headboard but you can make out light through a pinhole. Both Red John and the Gordon boy are said to haunt the castle.
Photos were allowed up on the roof!
But it’s time to skip across the stone mushrooms…
and on to Corgarff, the last of the Scottish castles today…
A bit more out of the way, near Tarland, but still in Aberdeenshire, is the fortress that is Corgarff Castle. Originally home to the Forbes, it was then burnt by the Gordons and left derelict. After the battle of Culloden the tower house was gutted and rebuilt as barracks for government soldiers (Redcoats).
Inside the star-shaped perimeter:
This is how the soldiers’ barracks room would have looked in 1750:
And that’s it. Off out the door you go, but do come back soon!
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Naughty Contemporary Fiction
Scotland’s all misty lochs and magical forests and perfect boyfriends, right?
When dance student Amalphia Treadwell embarks on a secret relationship with her charismatic new teacher, she has no idea of the danger that lurks in his school in Scotland…
My dance background and love of history and spicy stories are what inspired this heady mix of contemporary romance and ballet set in a castle. Readers of my historical fiction will recognise the castle and stone circle that feature in these books.
There are no cliffhanger endings in this series; each book completes a story, but then there is more. So much more. Read all the blurbs here
Series on Amazon UK
Series on Amazon worldwide
Historical Fiction
Set in 1st century Scotland, my latest novel, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. The book features a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance!
“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society
See the press release here
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
Taking place mainly in a fictional castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR blends an often overlooked period of history, the Scottish witchcraft accusations, in particular the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic, with a love story.
See the press release here
From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the kidnapped children and young people of Aberdeen. The story follows the adventures of Elizabeth Manteith from the castle and her determined efforts to get back home. There’s love. There’s derring-dos on the high seas… And there’s chocolate!
See the publisher’s Press Release here
Review from the Historical Novel Society
Nice to see that there’s actually something inside. I was excited years back to visit Dover Castle to find it nearly empty. Takes away all the atmosphere you imagine when you’re standing outside the building otherwise.
I can see that would be a disappointment!
Truly my image of paradise. You live in paradise. I love Scotland.
I love it too 🙂
Craigievar is absolutely how a castle should look. We visited it a few years back and, as it was late in the day, got a guided tour all to ourselves. Such stories the guide had to tell!
The guided tours are really good, aren’t they?
They’re excellent! Such a lot of historical ‘gossip’ that never makes the guide book, and unlike some tours, we had time to nose around on our own too.
Craigievar is my favorite Scottish castle
It is a great one 🙂
Another beautiful walk through some breathtaking castles. What a wonderful life you lead 🙂
🙂
Every time I see one of your posts pop up, I’m excited for another dream-lined journey. Thanks, I love your photos and stories.
Thank you so much Petrea. I’m glad you like the posts.
Breathtaking pictures!
Thank you 🙂
WOW!!! Love all these castles, but the last one in partiuclar. I like it when historical ambiences are recreated.
Thanks so much for sharing this 🙂
Glad you enjoyed 🙂
There’s something so enchanting and inviting about these kinds of Scottish castles. Reminds me to pay another visit!
There is. Magical places.
You make me want to go a-castle-ing too! Beautiful photos too!
Castle-ing is great, I recommend it 🙂
Thank you, Ailish for taking us on this adventure.
Glad you like 🙂
Oh my gosh, these are beautiful!! A castle tour through Europe is definitely on my “bucket list” (I’m in the US). I’m enamored with the pictures you took and how you described your journey ❤️
I would also like to thank you for following my blog! Following yours, too – such wonderful material on here! So nice to connect with you ❤️
Cheers!
~The Silent Wave Blog writer
I’m so glad you liked the blog and look forward to reading yours too!
Thank you so much! I really do – your writing is amazing
They look amazing!
My favourite castles are: Cawdor, Castle of Mey and Brodie Castle.
MAGIC POST AILISH, CHINA
china.alexandria@livingthedream.blog
Glad you like 🙂
Corgarff Castle – years ago, visiting friends in Ballater, they took me to Glenlivit distillery. On the drive back, I saw this white castle gleaming in the sun nestled in the folds of green fields. I took a picture from the car, and didn’t think more about it till I got home. Looking at my photos, I could see the corners of the star-shaped fort and the bright white building. I loved it. I had to search on maps along the route we drove that day to find out the name of the castle (and 10 years ago, that was harder than it sounds). In that photo, in my imagination, I can see soldiers and highlanders and people of old living and tending in that ancient place. Thank you for showing me the place up close and inside – it’s as magical as I imagined.
It is a fascinating castle to visit with the way it’s set up inside. And I love the star shaped fort walls too.
I’m so glad to see this! John Forbes was my forebear, and I’ve only recently looked into his “story.” Thank you so much! I am fascinated!
So great to see this. I’m descended from Red John Forbes and am now plotting my trip to Craigievar castle!
It’s a great place to visit. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
I love castles. I hope to buy one one day
Ha! I would like to do that too 🙂
All we need it money now
Indeed!
You could make a hundred posts about castles and it wouldn’t be too much! Craigievar is truly something else. Such inspiration for stories!
It is stunningly beautiful.
I liked the pink castle. I saw a programme on TV this week about Portugal and didn’t realise how many beautiful castles there were in that country. We know Warwick,Cardiff and Bamburgh but there are many along the South coast of England that are worth a visit.
It’s amazing just how many castles there are!