Delgatie Castle

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Delgatie Castle
Delgatie Castle 2017-05-26.jpg
The castle in 2017
Delgatie Castle

Delgatie Castle is a castle near Turriff, [1] in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. [2] The castle consists of a white-harled, five-storey tower dating from the 16th century, with later extensions. [3]

Contents

History

A castle has stood on the site of Delgatie Castle since the year 1030 AD, although the earliest parts of the castle standing today were built between 1570 and 1579. [4] Additional wings and a chapel were added in 1743.

The castle was stripped from Henry de Beaumont, Earl of Buchan, after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and given to Clan Hay (later to become the Earls of Erroll). Mary, Queen of Scots, was a guest at the castle in 1562 after the Battle of Corrichie. [1] [5]

Architecturally, the castle consists of a keep, adjoining house and two later wings. [6] Notable features include a very wide turnpike stair and painted ceilings dating from the 16th century in two of the rooms, one dating from 1592, and the other from 1597. [7] The Hay family arms may be seen in many places, including the three cattle yokes which recall a farmer and his two sons who were instrumental in the defeat of a Danish raiding party at Cruden Bay. [6]

In 1994, Captain Hay of Delgatie, the then owner of the castle, [8] made the decision to open it as a visitor attraction. The opening took place on 9 July, when visitors were first welcomed and informed about the preservation and restoration works undertaken, which followed assessments in the early 1950s that had considered the building to be beyond repair. [1]

Following the death of Captain Hay in 1997, Delgatie Castle has been managed by a private charitable trust, [9] which continues to oversee public access, the tearoom and holiday accommodation. [1] The interiors retain a domestic character, and the castle includes a room traditionally associated with a visit by Mary, Queen of Scots after the Battle of Corrichie. [1]

The castle, its grounds and the café are open to the public during the summer months. Suites within the castle and several cottages on the estate are available for rental. There is also a fishing area on the river that runs through the property. [1] [9] [10]

In 2018, a memorial garden dedicated to animals that served and died in wartime was opened in front of Delgatie Castle. [11]

The Delgatie Castle Tearoom near Turriff received two awards at the Scottish Café Awards in 2022, [12] and in 2025 was recorded as the recipient of the Tearoom of the Year title at the Scottish Café and Bakery Awards. [13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Delgatie Castle celebrates 30 years since public opening". Grampian Online. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Delgatie Castle | Place | trove.scot" . Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "Delgatie Castle from The Gazetteer for Scotland". www.scottish-places.info. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "Delgatie Castle and Gardens | The Castles of Scotland, Coventry | Goblinshead" . Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Delgatie Castle | History, Beautiful Photos, & Visiting Information". Britain Express. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Delgatie Castle | The University of Aberdeen". www.abdn.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  7. ↑ Michael Bath, Renaissance Decorative Painting in Scotland, NMS (2003), 221-22
  8. ↑ "Delgatie Castle". VisitAberdeenshire. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Delgatie Castle in the spotlight for new Channel 4 series Hire My Home". Grampian Online. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Enjoy a trip to the historic Delgatie Castle". Press and Journal. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  11. ↑ Gray, Tamsin (19 November 2018). "North-east man fulfils the wishes of his late wife by creating a memorial for war animals". Press and Journal. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "Double award delight for Delgatie Castle". Grampian Online. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "Cafes celebrate success at national awards ceremony". Grampian Online. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.

57°32′39″N2°24′43″W / 57.5443°N 2.4120°W / 57.5443; -2.4120

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