County

How to get there

History 

When Mary Queen of Scots visited the castle in 1540 it had been in the Atholl family over 250 years and the early tower had been extended to include a great hall.   As the family prospered from earl to marqess and finally to duke, the castle was extended and improved. 

During the Civil War the castle was a royalist stronghold and was besieged and captured by Cromwell's forces.  It was held for ten years by the Parliamentarians and after the Restoration the earl was created marquess by the grateful King Charles II. 

In 1703 Queen Ann created the 2nd marquess Duke of Atholl.  He was succeeded by his youngest son as his other sons had given up the inheritance by supporting the Jacobites.  In 1745 one of these sons, Lord George Murray, arrived with a Jacobite army and besieged the castle.  This was the last siege in Britain but it was unsuccessful.  The 2nd duke then set about turning the castle into a Georgian mansion.  Sash windows were inserted, the castle's turrets and castellations removed and Cummings Tower lowered.  The duke also had a magnificent staircase built with a domed ceiling and adorned with family portraits.  Most of the building seen today dates from the 18th century. 

In 1844 Queen Victoria visited Blair Castle and the 200 Athollmen forming the royal bodyguard so pleased the Queen that following year she presented them with their colours.  In 1869 the 7th duke restored the castle's medieval appearance and turrets, corbels and castellations reappeared.  Cumming's Tower was rebuilt to its former height. 

The present duke is still head of the Atholl Highlanders and the last castle to suffer a private siege is also the last to maintain a private army.  They are still mainly recruited from the estate and exist today as a ceremonial bodyguard.