C a s t l e s
Travel Home
Travelogue
Planning
Resources
Itinerary
Scottish Castles
Abbeys and Kirks
Other sights
email Phouka
|
castle |
Kellie Castle is a large, well-maintainted tower house
The three towers are joined to a main block. The north tower was built in the 15c, the east was added in the 16c, and they were joined by the main block. In the 17th century they were connected to the south tower as well. There is evidence that the north tower was raised over earlier foundations, and it is thought that the first 10ft or so of the tower are of 14th century origin.
The basement is vaulted throughout the castle. A square stair rises to the large hall on the first floor. Kellie also has four turnpike stairs in the towers.. The Vine Room, on the upper floor, has a ceiling painted by De Witt, and there are other fine plaster ceilings in the castle.
A trellised archway in the formal gardens
The turrets on the tower lost their original conical roofs in 1790, and are now capped by a continuation of the main roof. It's an odd sight.
There is a magnificent, 4 acre walled garden on the ground of the castle, meticulously tended. We didn't go into the castle itself, which is maintained as a period-piece museum, but did walk through the gardens early in the evening admiring the extent of the grounds. The garden houses both vegetables and fruit trees, and many ornamental flowers. It's gorgeous.
A spiral stair in the castle is reputedly haunted by the spirit of Anne Erskine, who died falling from one of the 5th story windows. And the ghost of James Lorimer has also been seen seated in one of the passages.
A rectangular doocot near Kellie Castle
