Blair Castle
Perthshire seat of the Dukes of Atholl, home of Europe's only legal private army.
via Wikipedia: Blair Castle · see source
Blair Castle sits in its own grounds near Blair Atholl in Perthshire, Scotland, guarding Glen Garry and the main road through the central Highlands, now the A9. It is the ancestral home of Clan Murray and was long the seat of their chief, the Duke of Atholl, although the 12th Duke was born and raised in South Africa and lives there. The castle is a category A listed building and its grounds appear on the national inventory of important gardens and designed landscapes. It has welcomed visitors since 1936 and still houses the Atholl Highlanders.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
- Clan
- Clan Murray
- Listing
- Category A
- Open to public
- Since 1936
Facts from the source article.
Background
Tradition says building began in 1269, when John I Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, started a tower on land belonging to David I Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl, while the earl was away on crusade. The earl complained to King Alexander III, regained the land and folded the tower into his own castle. The earldom passed through many hands before John Murray was made Earl of Atholl in 1629, and it has stayed with the Murrays ever since. Royalist loyalties saw the castle taken by Oliver Cromwell's army after the invasion of 1650. In 1689 Viscount Dundee held a council of war there before the Battle of Killiecrankie, and in the Forty-Five Prince Charles Edward Stuart occupied it twice before government troops held it through a siege in March 1746.
Did You Know?
- A Grand Fir in the grounds was measured at 62.7 m in 2009 and named the second-tallest tree in Britain.
- Part of the castle served as a hospital during the First World War.
- Most Dukes of Atholl are buried beside the ruins of St Bride's Kirk in the grounds.
- The estate featured in the 2008 reality series Conquer the Castle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blair Castle open to visitors?
Yes, it has been open to the public since 1936.
What are the Atholl Highlanders?
The Duke of Atholl's private army, garrisoned at the castle and described as the only legal private army in Europe.
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