|
Kellie Castle & Garden
|
This ancient, and haunted Castle, once home to the youngest daughter of Robert the Bruce, and later to the Earls of Kellie, has a fascinating story. The first Earl saved the life of King James I and VI, and the 5th Earl, who fought on the side of the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden, was later imprisoned after spending the entire summer of 1746 hidden in an old Beech tree in the gardens at Kellie where his butler secretly brought him food every day.
More recently, the castle was saved from ruin by the accomplished Lorimer family, who were associated with Kellie for over 100 years.
Kellie is a place for everyone - for lovers of nature, or gardens, or fine interiors; of ornate plasterwork, paintings and furniture alike. Take a stroll around the nature walks, visit the bird hide, walk past the pond, through areas of woodland, carpeted with the white flowers of wild garlic in early summer and through the meadow.
Sit under an apple tree, enjoy the enchanting beauty, the sound of songbirds and the fragrances that make the atmosphere of the Arts and Crafts Walled Garden so special. Buy some freshly harvested fruit or vegetables grown in the garden and sold in the summerhouse that Sir Robert Lorimer designed as a young architect, for the castle where he spent much of his childhood, and which influenced his later works as one of Scotland’s leading architects. Imagine what life was like for the laird and his family, or for the servants. Admire the library ceiling - one of the oldest ornamental plaster ceilings in Scotland â€" installed here in honour of the King’s visit to Kellie, or marvel at the painted panelling in the Dining Room, painted by Dutch artists in the 17th Century.
The stables now house an exhibition on the life and work of Sir Robert’s son, Hew Lorimer â€" who in his own right was a leading figure in Scottish Sculpture, and you can soak up the atmosperic sculpture studio, where he worked.
Autumn is a good time to admire the garden â€" the fading flowers of summer give way to bountiful harvests from the orchard. Enjoy autumn events such as Potato Day or Apple Day, the Hallowe’en haunted tours and party, and later, the Christmas Fair where the house comes alive for a Victorian Christmas â€" There are also lots of craft stalls for all your Christmas shopping, the Tearoom will be open for light lunches and afternoon tea, and Father Christmas will be in his grotto with a gift for every child.
The gardens and Estate have been run organically for the last 17 years. We avoid the use of poisons and chemicals, and this has helped sustain a wide range of wildlife from Hedgehogs through to Badgers, Birds and Bats.
Short walks around the estate and linking with other local walks to Kellie Law and surrounding villages. Woodland/Meadow walks encircle the Castle and walled garden areas, and link with the bird hide.
|
|