Aberdour House, fife - wee guides to scotland castles and mansions

Wee Guides to Scotland
Aberdour Castle , Aberdour, Fife.

Goblinshead

130 Inveresk Rd
Musselburgh
EH21 7AY
SCOTLAND

Aberdour Castle. Standing in the picturesque village of Aberdour, the large castle consists of a ruinous 14th-century keep and ranges of buildings, dating from later centuries, one of which is still roofed and contains a gallery on the first floor. A terraced garden has been restored, and there is also a fine walled garden. Aberdour was a property of the Mortimer family. The stretch of water between the island of Inch Colm and Aberdour is known as 'Mortimer's Deep'. One of the family was a wicked fellow, but wished to be buried at the abbey on Inch Colm. His remains were on their way to the island, but were cast overboard there, either because of a storm raised from the wrath of God, or because the Abbot did not want a man such as Mortimer buried on Inch Colm. The castle was in the possession of Thomas Randolph, a friend and captain of Robert the Bruce, in 1325; but by 1342 had passed to the Douglases. James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, held the castle in the 16th century. Morton was implicated in the murder of Rizzio, the secretary of Mary Queen of Scots, and of Darnley, her second husband. He escaped severe punishment at the time, and in 1572 was made Regent for the young James VI. In 1580, however, the Earl's plotting finally caught up with him, and James VI had him executed. Much of the castle was abandoned in 1725 when the family moved to nearby Aberdour House, although part was used as a barracks, then school room, masonic hall and dwelling until 1924. Disabled access and WC. The nearby chapel of St Fillans may date from as early as the 12th century.

Directions:	On A921, Aberdour, Fife.
Ownership:	HS	01383 860519	Ord. Survey Map Ref:	NT 193854 66
Open:	daily all year except closed Thursday PM and Fridays October to March.
Key:	P S R WC £	Click Here for explanation of Key and other abbreviations

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