Blair Castle - Wee Guides to scotland castles and mansions

Wee Guides to Scotland
Blair Castle, Blair Atholl

Goblinshead

130 Inveresk Rd
Musselburgh
EH21 7AY
SCOTLAND

White-washed and castellated, Blair Castle is a rambling mansion of the Dukes of Atholl, and incorporates the 13th-century Comyn's Tower. The building had been completely altered and lowered in the 18th century, to turn it into a plain mansion, but was remodelled and recastellated in 1872 by the architect David Bryce. In 1263 the Comyns held the castle, and Edward III of England stayed here in 1336. James V visited in 1529, as did Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1564, by which time it had passed to the Earls of Atholl. In 1653 the castle was besieged, captured and partly destroyed with gunpowder by Cromwell. The castle was sufficiently complete, however, to be garrisoned by 'Bonnie Dundee', John Claverhouse, in 1689, and it was here that his body was brought after the Battle of Killiecrankie. The Earls of Atholl were made Marquises, then Dukes of Atholl in 1703. Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed here in 1745. The following year the castle was held by Hanoverian forces, and attacked and damaged by Lord George Murray, Bonnie Prince Charlie's general and the Duke of Atholl's brother, although he failed to capture it. Blair was the last castle in Britain to be besieged. Many interesting rooms. Collections of paintings, tapestries, arms, armour, china, costumes and Jacobite mementoes. Fine Georgian plasterwork. Garden. Disabled facilities.

Directions:	Off A9, 1 mile NW of Blair Atholl, Perth & Kinross.
Ownership:	Pri/LA	01796 481207	Ord. Survey Map Ref:	NN 867662 43
Open:	daily 10.00am-6.00pm 1 April to 30 October
Key:	P S R WC £	Click Here for explanation of Key and other abreviations

Fax: +44 (0) 131 653 6566 Tel: +44 (0) 131 665 2894
email: goblinshead@sol.co.uk