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Braemar Castle | |
County |
Aberdeenshire | |
How to get there |
17 miles south-west of Ballater, off A93 | |
History |
The infamous 13th
century royal castle of Kindrochit, which defended the Cairnwell and Tolmouth mountain
passes, fell into a decline during the 16th century. In 1628 a new castle was built by the Earl of Mar a short distance from the old site. Although the castle was mainly constructed as a hunting lodge the defences were clearly designed to protect the tower house from the family's traditional enemies the Farquharsons. During the struggle for control of Scotland the animosity between the clans was overshadowed by the Jacobite cause and that of William of Orange. Both causes needed clan support and when the Earl of Mar declared for William and Mary, Braemar castle was garrisoned by government troops. The Farquharsons were supporters of the Jacobites and in 1689, under the leadership of John Farquharson, the 'Black Colonel', they captured and burnt Braemar Castle. The traditional superiority of the earls of Mar suffered a lasting blow and the family never lived at the castle again. In 1732 the final insult occurred when John Farquharson, 9th Laird of Invercauld bought the burnt out castle and its estate. The castle was leased to the Hanoverian Government and in 1748 restoration was begun by John Adam. Although the conical towers were heightened into crenellated turrets the walls of the castle are little changed from the original 17th century building. An unusual star-shaped curtain wall with gun loops was added by the English troops in the 18th century. The castle continued to be manned by troops to control the hostile clansmen and it was not until the 19th century that the Farquharson family finally lived in the castle. The Farquharons restored the castle from a garrison to a family home. Today Braemar is the site of the annual Royal Highland Gathering, traditionally attended by the reigning monarch. |
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