This is Craigievar Castle, close to where we live. Over the past two years, the castle has been undergoing major restoration work. The most visible sign of this is the re-harling work in the pink colour so charateristic of Aberdeenshire's castles. Craigievar, like many others, is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, and though the Trust has had it's difficulties in recent times with mountain properties, they are unrivalled at looking after built heritage. The work has been completed despite some real financial issues at NTS, and I think that it is a stunning restoration. Aside from the external work, a great deal of internal work has been carried out.
These photographs were taken in mid-May, with the Spring flowers still in bloom. The early morning sun shows the castle to best advantage, and it's easy to see why it is claimed that Walt Disney gained inspiration for his fairytale castle from this style.
Craigievar was completed in 1626 by William Forbes, known as "Danzig Willie" for his trading links with the Polish city. The links between the northeast of Scotland and Poland continue to the present time, and the Forbes name is still common locally.
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