Kellie Castle, a charming visitor site close to Scotland's Fife Coast



Kellie Castle, Fife

This evening, I am posting information on Kellie Castle and its gardens.

The castle is located about three miles from Pittenweem in the East Neuk of Fife (east of Scotland) and thus fits nicely with the Fife Coast ‘tourist trail’ between Edinburgh and St. Andrews which includes St. Monans and Crail.

Parts of the Castle (north tower) date from 1360 but the substance of the structure dates from the 16th century. There is an inscription on the south-facing wall dated 1573 which refers to the time when Margaret Hay was assigned the estate at Kellie as a dower by her husband Lawrence, the fourth Lord Oliphant.

The Castle today is a legacy of Professor James Lorimer who, together with his family, embarked on a project in 1878 to restore the roofless and ruinous building which he succeeded in achieving. Relapse into another ruinous period was narrowly avoided in 1936 when the garden-loving Mary MacLeod Wylie and her sculptor husband, Hew Lorimer took control.After Mary’s death in 1970 ownership passed to the National Trust for Scotland, a heritage organisation.

The garden has been maintained in the Scottish Arts and Crafts style identified with Robert Lorimer (son of Prof. James) all within the 400 year old walls. There is a main central path, two small corner gardens ( Robin’s Garden and the Secret Garden) and a stone garden house.

Today, the garden comprises a blend of formal structure and informal planting. the Trust maintains the late Victorian rose collection whilst elsewhere there are vegetable beds producing organically grown crops. There are even a few chickens scratching around.

When the sun shines it is possible to sit out in the garden for tea and refreshments.

The Castles exudes a ‘lived in’ feel and provides a pleasant refuge from the busier tourist sites in this part of Scotland.

The castle is open from late March through to late October but prospective visitors should first check website for details.


Kellie Castle Garden


Kellie Castle Garden

Video Clips

Kellie Castle-front elevation




Kellie Castle-garden


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more