Castles of Scotland - Glamis

Castles of Scotland - Glamis Castle

This castle is perhaps the most regal of them all, since the Queen Mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was born here, as was Margaret, the sister of the current Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II, for her part, often visited here as a child.
Its origins date back to the 11th century, hence its oldest part is a residential tower that served as a hunting lodge. According to many accounts, the castle is home to the spirit of the Grey Lady — Lady Janet, who in 1530 was (as often happened in Scotland in those days) accused of witchcraft. Lady Janet was burned on the castle hill in Edinburgh.
The oldest part of the castle dates from the 11th century. It was a residential tower that served as a royal hunting lodge. In the 17th century the castle was thoroughly rebuilt.

The Grey Lady is not the only ghost to haunt Glamis Castle.
The castle has often been the scene of macabre events.
A wealthy family came to the castle to take refuge from a clan that threatened them. Instead of help they were locked in a chamber with no food or drink. When the room was opened, one of the prisoners was still alive — he had been eating pieces of his relatives' bodies to avoid starving to death.

Hundreds of years later, the lords of Glamis Castle staged human hunts. One of the victims was a dark-skinned servant torn apart by dogs before ladies who laughed to incite the violence. Some believe that one of the ghosts seen here belongs to the victim of that atrocity.

Glamis Castle is one of Scotland's most impressive castles and is located in Angus, about 20 kilometres northeast of Dundee. The castle is one of the few in Scotland that have remained in the hands of a single family since medieval times.

The main building of the castle was built in the 15th century, although the original fortress on the site was established as early as the 11th century. The castle consists of several wings that surround an inner courtyard. Inside there are numerous rooms, such as ballrooms, libraries, guest rooms and a chapel.

One of the most important rooms in Glamis Castle is the Great Bedroom, which was the birthplace of the Queen Mother, Elizabeth, the wife of King George VI. Other notable rooms include the Royal Chapel, the Knight's Hall and the Music Room.

Glamis Castle is also associated with many legends and stories. The most famous of these is the legend of a Scottish vampire, called the "Earl of Crawford", who allegedly lived in one of the castle's chambers.

The castle is currently open to visitors and is one of Scotland's most popular tourist attractions.