Location: Forfar, Angus Map
Tel. 01307 840393
Open:
Mar- Oct: 10:30am- 4:30pm daily
Nov& Dec: 10am- 6pm daily
Last tour at 4pm
Official site
Glamis Castle, nestled in the fertile Strathmore Valley of Angus, Scotland, is a majestic baronial stronghold that blends medieval grit with fairy-tale elegance. Renowned as the family seat of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, it has stood for over 600 years, evolving from a defensive tower into a grand residence steeped in history, legend, and royal connections. Its striking turrets and lush grounds, set against the rolling Angus countryside, make it one of Scotland’s most picturesque castles, while its ties to Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the late Queen Mother add layers of mystique. Managed by the Strathmore family, Glamis remains a living estate, open to visitors for its architecture, gardens, and tales of intrigue.
Glamis Castle’s roots trace to 1372, when Sir John Lyon, Thane of
Glamis, received the lands from King Robert II as a reward for loyalty.
Lyon, who married the king’s daughter Joanna, began transforming an
existing hunting lodge into a fortified tower house by 1376, leveraging
the site’s defensibility amid Angus’ open plains. The Lyon family,
rising from minor nobility, cemented their status through this union,
with Sir John appointed Chamberlain of Scotland—only to be killed in a
1383 duel over a land dispute.
His son, Sir John Lyon II,
completed the initial L-plan tower, a sturdy keep suited to the era’s
clan feuds and English border raids. In 1404, the family’s fortunes grew
when Sir John’s widow, Elizabeth Graham, secured a royal charter
confirming Glamis as a barony. The castle saw little action during the
Wars of Scottish Independence, its inland position sparing it from
coastal sieges, but it served as a refuge during regional unrest, like
the 1452 Battle of Brechin nearby.
The Lyons, ennobled as Lords Glamis in 1445, expanded the castle
under Patrick, 1st Lord Glamis (d. 1459). By the 16th century, John, 6th
Lord Glamis (d. 1528), added wings and a chapel, reflecting Renaissance
influences. His widow, Janet Douglas, faced tragedy in 1537 when James
V, suspecting her of treason and witchcraft (partly due to her Douglas
clan ties), seized Glamis, burned her at the stake in Edinburgh, and
held the castle until 1543. Her son, John, 7th Lord, reclaimed it,
beginning a restoration.
In 1606, Patrick, 9th Lord Glamis, was
created Earl of Kinghorne by James VI, reflecting the family’s loyalty
post-Union of the Crowns. He rebuilt Glamis in baronial style, adding
turrets and a grand staircase, transforming it into a noble residence.
During the Civil War (1640s), Glamis sheltered Royalists, including
James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, who stayed in 1645 before his defeat
at Philiphaugh. Cromwellian troops briefly occupied it in 1651, damaging
interiors but sparing the structure.
In 1677, Patrick, 3rd Earl of Kinghorne, bought the earldom of
Strathmore, renaming the title Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. The
family weathered the Jacobite Rebellions, remaining neutral in 1715 and
1745, thus avoiding Eilean Donan’s fate. The 18th century saw Glamis
landscaped into a romantic estate, with Patrick, 7th Earl (d. 1789),
hiring Capability Brown’s disciple, Thomas White, to design gardens.
The 19th century brought prosperity. Thomas, 11th Earl (d. 1865),
modernized Glamis, adding Victorian flourishes like the Dining Room’s
plasterwork. His grandson, Claude, 13th Earl (d. 1904), fathered Lady
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, born at Glamis in 1900 (though possibly in
London). Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, spent her
childhood there, marrying the future George VI in 1923. Glamis became a
royal retreat, hosting the royal family during World War II, when it
served briefly as a convalescent home for soldiers.
The 14th
Earl, Timothy Bowes-Lyon (d. 1972), opened Glamis to the public in the
1950s to fund upkeep, a tradition continued by his son, Michael, 18th
Earl (d. 1987), and grandson, Simon, 19th Earl (b. 1986). On August 4,
2000, the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday was celebrated at Glamis, her
last visit before her 2002 death. As of April 11, 2025, the castle
remains a family home and tourist site, managed by the Strathmore
Estates, with the 19th Earl residing in a private wing.
Glamis Castle is an L-shaped tower house expanded into a baronial mansion, its pinkish sandstone façade adorned with turrets, crow-stepped gables, and conical roofs. Covering 14,000 square meters (including grounds), it blends medieval defensiveness with Renaissance and Victorian elegance.
The central tower, built in 1376, is the castle’s core:
Rising 30
meters (100 feet) over five floors, its 3-meter-thick walls of local
sandstone feature narrow slits, originally for archers. The ground
floor, a vaulted cellar, stored provisions, with a well (now sealed)
beneath.
The Great Hall, on the first floor, spans 15 x 8 meters,
with a barrel-vaulted ceiling, oak paneling added in the 17th century,
and a minstrels’ gallery. A massive fireplace, carved with the Lyon
arms, warms the space, once hosting feasts.
Upper floors include the
King Malcolm Room, where Malcolm II allegedly died in 1034 (a legend, as
no evidence supports this), with 17th-century plasterwork and a
four-poster bed. The tower’s conical cap, rebuilt in 1606, crowns a
battlemented walkway.
Flanking wings, added from the 15th century, create an asymmetrical
courtyard:
The East Wing houses the Chapel, built c. 1500, with a
painted ceiling of biblical scenes (restored 1688) and a pew for the
Strathmore family. Its oak altar and stained glass evoke sanctity amid
the castle’s martial past.
The West Wing, expanded in 1606, includes
the Drawing Room, a 17-meter-long salon with gilded cornices, French
furniture, and portraits by Joshua Reynolds. Victorian upgrades added a
bay window overlooking the Italian Garden.
The Dining Room, completed
in 1850, features ornate plasterwork, a 10-meter oak table, and a
chandelier, reflecting 19th-century opulence.
The main entrance, a 17th-century addition, sits beneath a clock tower with a sundial dated 1678. A grand staircase, carved with lions (the Lyon emblem), leads to the Great Hall. Defensive remnants include a dry moat (filled in the 18th century) and a gatehouse, now decorative, with a portcullis slot. The castle’s 100+ rooms, from servants’ quarters to secret passages, weave a labyrinthine layout, with 10 towers punctuating the skyline.
Glamis is remarkably intact, its sandstone weathered but sound. The 17th-century reroofing preserved interiors, though Victorian plumbing and 20th-century heating modernized it. Private areas remain unrestored, contrasting the polished public rooms. Maintenance, costing £500,000 yearly, is funded by tourism and events, with recent repairs (2024) addressing storm-damaged turrets.
Glamis’ 65 hectares (160 acres) of grounds are a horticultural and
scenic triumph:
Italian Garden: Designed in 1910 by Cecilia
Bowes-Lyon, this formal parterre features yew hedges, fountains, and
roses, framed by the castle’s silhouette. A central sundial, gifted by
George VI, marks time.
Walled Garden: Dating to the 17th century,
this 1-hectare plot grows heritage vegetables, apples, and cut flowers,
supplying the castle café. Its red-brick walls shelter a Victorian
greenhouse.
Pinetum: Planted in the 19th century, this arboretum
boasts sequoias, Douglas firs, and a 300-year-old yew, with paths
winding past a Gothic fountain.
Nature Trail: A 2-mile loop through
parkland reveals Strathmore’s fields, the River Dean, and roe deer
habitats, with views to the Sidlaw Hills.
Driveway: A mile-long
avenue of lime trees, planted in 1775, leads from Glamis village, its
symmetry echoing baronial grandeur.
The grounds host events like
the Glamis Proms, with 10,000 attendees enjoying music against the
castle backdrop. Accessibility is strong, with paved paths for
wheelchairs, though wet grass can challenge mobility.
Glamis Castle is a cultural icon, rich with history and myth:
Royal Connection: As the Queen Mother’s childhood home and Princess
Margaret’s birthplace (1930), Glamis links to Britain’s monarchy. Its
royal guestbook includes Queen Victoria (1875) and Elizabeth II
(multiple visits).
Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Glamis is tied to the
fictional Thane of Glamis in Macbeth, though the historical Macbeth (d.
1057) had no connection. The legend stems from Malcolm II’s supposed
murder there, fueling tales of a “Macbeth Room” with ghostly bloodstains
(a romantic embellishment).
Ghost Stories: Glamis is Scotland’s “most
haunted” castle, with tales of the Grey Lady (Janet Douglas’ spirit), a
Monster of Glamis (a deformed heir allegedly hidden in a secret room),
and card-playing ghosts in the crypt. These legends, amplified by
19th-century gothic fascination, draw paranormal enthusiasts.
Clan
Legacy: The Strathmore family’s 600-year tenure, unbroken despite wars
and taxes, embodies Scottish nobility. The castle’s Lyon and Bowes-Lyon
artifacts—swords, tapestries, a 14th-century charter—preserve clan
pride.
Cultural Events: The Glamis Extravaganza (July) features
vintage cars and Highland games, while Christmas markets fill the
grounds with lights, tying the castle to Angus’ community.
Its
turrets grace postcards, and its interiors inspired Rebecca (1940) sets,
cementing Glamis as a romantic archetype.
Located 5 miles southwest of Forfar off the A94, Glamis is 12 miles
north of Dundee (20-minute drive) or 1 hour from Aberdeen. Forfar’s bus
(20C) stops at Glamis village, a 1-mile walk to the castle. Free parking
fits 300 cars, with overflow for events.
Opening hours (2025):
March 29–October 26: Daily, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM).
November 1–December 14: Weekends only, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (grounds only
weekdays).
Closed December 15–March 28, except for private bookings.
Admission: £16.50 adults, £10 children (5–16), £13 concessions, £45
family (2 adults, 3 children). Guided tours (50 minutes), included in
the ticket, explore 10 public rooms, with self-guided garden access.
Pre-booking is advised, especially for summer.
The castle offers:
Accessibility: Ground-floor rooms (Dining Room, Crypt) suit wheelchairs
via ramps, but upper floors (70 steps) are stairs-only. A virtual tour
aids those with mobility issues.
Family Appeal: Kids enjoy ghost
tales and a nature trail treasure hunt, though narrow passages need
supervision. Dogs are welcome in gardens (leashed, not indoors).
Facilities: The Pavilion Café serves scones and haggis, while the shop
stocks Strathmore tartan and Queen Mother memorabilia.
Highlights
include the Chapel’s ceiling, the Drawing Room’s grandeur, and garden
strolls with Sidlaw vistas. Nearby, Dundee’s V&A Museum or Angus Glens
hikes complement a visit.
Glamis faces preservation hurdles:
Upkeep Costs: Maintaining 100+
rooms and 65 hectares costs £1 million yearly, met by tourism, weddings
(50 annually), and farming revenue from Strathmore Estates’ 2,000
hectares.
Weather Damage: 2023 storms cracked turrets, with repairs
ongoing into 2025. Climate-driven rain threatens sandstone, prompting
gutter upgrades.
Tourism Balance: 70,000 visitors yearly strain
floors and paths, managed by timed entries and restricted private
access.
Legends vs. History: Ghost stories boost appeal but
overshadow factual narratives, a tension the family navigates in tours.
The Strathmore Trust, formed 1990, ensures longevity, with solar panels
(2022) cutting energy costs. The castle’s private ownership keeps it a
home, not a museum, preserving its soul.
The most famous legend about the castle is that of the Monster of
Glamis, a hideously deformed child born to the Bowes-Lyon family.
According to legend, the monster was imprisoned in the castle all his
life and his chamber was walled up after his death.
An old story
tells that once guests staying at Glamis Castle hung towels out of the
windows of each room to find the monster's walled-up room. When they
looked at the castle from the outside, they noticed that there were no
towels hanging out of a number of windows.
The monster legend may
have been inspired by the true story of the Ogilvie family. Somewhere in
the almost five meter thick walls is the Bone Room. The Ogilvies had
once sought protection from their enemies, the Lindsays, in this, but
were betrayed and walled up alive.
According to the castle's
official website, King Malcolm II was mortally wounded in a nearby
battle in 1034 and taken to a royal hunting lodge that stood on the site
of the present castle, where Malcolm II also died.
There is a
small chapel in the castle that seats 46 people. Castle guides tell
visitors that a seat in the chapel is always reserved for the "Gray
Lady," a spirit that haunts the castle. According to the guide, the
chapel is still used regularly by the Bowes-Lyon family. Despite this,
no one is allowed to sit in this seat.
The late Sir David
Bowes-Lyon is said to have seen a young woman at one of the castle's
windows while taking a late-night stroll on the estate's lawn. He
reportedly saw the girl clutching the bars of a window while staring
absently out into the night. He was about to speak to the girl when she
suddenly disappeared, as if someone had snatched her away from the
window.
Earl Beardie was a guest at Glamis Castle. One night,
when he was drunk, he asked to play dice. Since it was the Sabbath, his
hosts refused him this request. Lord Beardie was so upset he screamed
that he was playing with the devil himself. A stranger then appeared at
the castle and asked if Lord Beardie wanted to play dice and they
started playing in one of the rooms. Later, servants heard screams and
curses coming from the room. One of the servants peered through the
keyhole, and it is reported that a ray of light shining through the
keyhole blinded him. The stranger disappeared. Many visitors reported
hearing screams and the clatter of dice, and not a few say the earl
still gambles with the devil for his soul.