Delgatie Castle

Delgatie Castle 2006

Location of Delgatie Castle within Aberdeenshire.

Delgatie Castle is a castle near Turriff, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

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. Additional wings and a chapel were added in 1743.

The castle was stripped from the disgraced 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.

Delgatie Castle

Like many castles, Delgatie is rumoured to be haunted. A number of reports of a ghostly red-haired figure, supposedly one Alexander Hay, were made by soldiers posted there during the Second World War. The castle's information boards, mostly written by Captain Hay who restored the house in the 1950s, recount that the ghost was first seen when a body was found bricked up in a priest hole.

Architecturally, the castle consists of a keep, adjoining house and two later wings. Notable features include a very wide turnpike stair and painted ceilings dating from the 16th century in some rooms.^[1] In many places may be seen the Hay family arms 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. (See Clan Hay for more detail.)

Today, the castle and its gardens are owned by the Delgatie Castle Trust. The castle, grounds, and café are open to the public throughout the summer months and suites within the castle itself and a number of cottages the estate are available to rent. There is also a popular fishing site on the river passing through.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Delgatie Castle.

• The Delgatie Castle web site

References

Settlements and places of interest in Formartine, Aberdeenshire
Primary settlements	Balmedie Cuminestown Ellon Fyvie Newburgh Oldmeldrum Pitmedden Potterton Rothienorman Tarves Turriff
Other settlements	Auchterless Barthol Chapel Belhelvie Blackdog Bogton Cairnorrie Collieston Craigdam Foveran Garmond Gight Inverkeithny Methlick Udny Green Udny Station Whitecairns Whiterashes Woodhead of Fyvie Ythanbank
Places of interest	Balmedie Country Park Craigston Castle Delgatie Castle Esslemont Castle Formartine and Buchan Way Fyvie Castle Haddo House Knockhall Castle Pitmedden Garden Sands of Forvie Tolquhon Castle Ythan Estuary

Coordinates: 57°32′39″N 2°24′43″W / 57.5443°N 2.4120°W / 57.5443; -2.4120