Mey – A Royal Legacy

The late Queen Mother’s Caithness castle is a many-faceted attraction

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WHEN Elizabeth, the Queen Mother first saw the almost derelict Castle of Mey in 1952, it was a case of love at first sight.

She was to oversee its transformation into a holiday home, which she then visited regularly twice a year from 1955 up until her death in 2002. It was the only property she ever personally owned.

Yet it was her decision in 1996 to turn the property, policies and farm over to the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, which has opened the castle to the public seven days a week from May to September.

A visitor centre was opened in early 2007 making it a must-see attraction in the north east.

“There is still a strong feeling of the Queen Mother’s presence in the castle,” explains trust administrator Shirley Farquhar, “and that could be an attraction in itself. However, many things contribute to making the castle a top-class tourist destination.