Castle of Mey

Castle of Mey

If you are heading along the NC500 in the Scottish Highlands and looking for castles to explore, you should make sure that the Castle of Mey is at the top of your list. The castle is just 2 miles down the same road as Celtic Lodges! Open seasonally from May to September, you’ll find a castle with royal heritage, fine coastal views and stunning walled gardens.

Ancient History

The Castle of Mey was built in the 16th century and has quite the scandalous family story behind it!  As the Castle of Mey notes on their history page:

“The Castle of Mey was built by George, the 4th Earl of Caithness for his second son William Sinclair. When visiting the family seat Girnigoe Castle in 1573, William was murdered by his older brother John, who had been imprisoned there for about six years by his cruel father. John had been planning an escape but William found out about it and told their father. John was in turn murdered and the castle went to third son, George Sinclair, who founded the family of the Sinclairs of Mey and whose descendant succeeded to the Earldom in 1789. He changed the name of the castle to Barrogill Castle.”

In 1819, the renowned Scottish architect William Burn was commissioned to make alterations to the Castle which included a grand entrance and the dining room. William Burn was also the architect behind the plans for Inverness Castle which is another castle you can see if travelling the North Coast 500 route. 

The Castle then changed hands a number of times up until 1952, when it went into an exciting new phase of history. 

A new Royal Owner

Whilst the late Queen Mother was visiting friends in Caithness in 1952 following the death of her husband King George VI, she discovered the Castle which was in a rundown state. She reportedly paid less than £100 to become the new owner, and in a letter to her treasurer Sir Arthur Penn said “Do you think me mad?… This seemed so sad that I thought I would buy it and escape there occasionally when life becomes hideous! It might be rather fun to have a small house so far away – the air is lovely, and one looks at Orkney from the drawing room!”

The castle, gardens and surrounding parkland were renovated according to the Queen Mother’s tastes in the years following her purchase, and she enjoyed spending three weeks there annually each summer, returning every autumn for a shorter time. The castle of Mey is now owned by the King’s Foundation Trust and HRH King Charles III spends a fortnight each summer at the castle, just as his grandmother did. 

Castle of Mey
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

A Coastal Location fit for Royalty

The Castle

Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour around a number of the rooms in the castle. You will be able to see the Front Hall, Library, Equery’s Room, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Butler’s Pantry, and Kitchen. Guides are on hand throughout the castle to explain the use of the different rooms, their  features and decoration.  They also give an insight into the running of the castle, and many of them have amusing stories and tales to tell.  It’s fascinating to see the Queen Mother’s personal effects kept in the Castle, exactly how she left them. There is strictly no photography allowed inside the Castle. 

The Gardens

The Walled Garden is a must visit for any keen gardeners! You will be able to see the seasonal plants and flowers, and produce is sometimes available to buy, as well as being used in the Tearoom. 

Visitor Centre and Tea Rooms

The Visitor Centre houses the Gift Shop, where you can pick up a souvenir of your visit. The tearoom offers snacks, drinks, home baking and lunch options. You can enjoy the cosy atmosphere inside or sit outside to enjoy the view!

Animal Centre

A short walk from the Castle into the East Woods, you’ll find the Animal Centre with sheep, pigs, donkeys, chickens, geese and ducks. Feed is available to buy for the chickens and sheep. 

Castle of Mey

Visiting the Castle of Mey

The Castle and Gardens of Mey are open from May to September from 11:00am, with the last admission at 3pm. The Castle is just a five minute drive from Celtic Lodges!

There is a short closure of the premises of around 10 days for HRH King Charles III to enjoy his annual visit to Caithness and attend the Mey Highland Games. We would always recommend that you check out the Castle’s Facebook page or give them a call to check opening days/times to avoid disappointment. 

You cannot book your admission in advance, just head into the gift shop to purchase your tickets. The Castle of Mey only accepts card/contactless payments. You can see the Castle’s accessibility information here

Admission prices in 2024 were as follows:

Castle, Grounds and Gardens

  • Adult £16.00
  • Concession £13.00 (seniors over 60 and students with ID)
  • Child £8.50 (5-16 years inclusive)
  • Family Ticket £42.00 (2 adults and up to 4 children)

Grounds and Gardens only

  • Adult £10.00
  • Child £8.50 (5-16 years inclusive)
  • Family Ticket £26.00 (2 adults and up to 4 children)

Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian and Spanish visitors can pick up a translation of the castle information sheet.

Castle of Mey

Nearby to the Castle of Mey

  • The Castle resides in the Parish of Canisbay, and Canisbay Church is where HRH King Charles III worships on his annual summer visit. Jan de Groot (who founded John O’Groats) was buried here and his tombstone is displayed within the church’s vestibule. 
  • If you are planning a summer trip, The Mey Highland Games (first Saturday in August) at the John O’Groats Showground is a fun day out with traditional entertainment and Highland Games to watch. You can even take part in some of the races! HRH King Charles often makes an appearance to enjoy the proceedings as it coincides with his annual summer visit. 
  • If you are looking for more royal connections, visit Dwarwick Pier – where the late Queen Elizabeth, Duke of Edinburgh, and then Prince Charles landed in 1955. It’s a picturesque harbour which overlooks Dunnet Bay

While you are visiting the North Coast, we’d recommend you enjoy spectacular views from Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on the UK mainland.

Channel 5 Documentary

For even more information and background to the Castle of Mey and the late Queen Mother watch the brilliant Channel 5 documentary.

Share this Post:

Related Posts

Planning Granted

Planning Granted

We’re very excited to announce that on November 18th 2024 planning permission was granted by the Highland Council to replace

Read More
Dunnet Bay

Dunnet Bay

The Scottish Highlands have some fantastic beaches, and one of the best ones is Dunnet Bay, located on the north

Read More

Duncansby Stacks

For some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Scotland, we highly recommend you take a trip to the Duncansby

Read More
Dunnet Head Lighthouse

Dunnet Head

When planning a holiday in the north of Scotland, John O’Groats is widely thought of as the most northerly point

Read More

John O’Groats

If you’re planning a trip around the NC500, you are likely planning to make a stop at John O’Groats and

Read More