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The Castle of Mey is 6 miles west of
John O Groats, 13 miles east of
Thurso,
by the main A836 road, on the far north coast
of Scotland, built from 1566 for the
Sinclair's, Earls of Caithness, bought by the
Queen Mother in 1952 for a holiday home.
You can normally visit the Castle with an
entrance fee from 1st May - 30th Sept, Wed -
Sun, 11,00 - 15.00. Closed last week in July
and first week in August? Postcode: KW14
4XH.
For Images on Mobile swipe right
Click On Map for area Attractions
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
You can visit the Cafe, Gardens, Animal
Centre, and around the Castle, or take a Tour
of the Castle as well that costs a bit
more.
Castle of Mey History
1000s - the Sinclair's arrived in Scotland,
thought have originated from Normandy in
France.
1200s - William St Clair was Sheriff of
Edinburgh with him gaining an Estate at Rosslyn
12 miles south of Edinburgh.
1455 - William Sinclair became the 1st Earl
of Caithness and 11th Baron of Rosslyn, with
him building the famous Rosslyn
Chapel from 1456.
1566 - the building of Barrogill Castle,
later known as the Castle of Mey, began for
George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness.
1600s - the new Canisbay Kirk was built 4
miles east of the Castle of Mey, where the
Sinclair's, and later, Royals would
worship.
1889 - the 15th Earl of
Caithness died when his home was Barrogill
Castle, he had no children, was the last Earl
of Caithness to live in Caithness.
The Earl left Barrogill Castle to his
friend, a zoologist named Frederick Granville
Heathcote who died in 1914, with his widow
selling the Castle in 1929.
1929 - Barrogill Castle was sold to Captain
Frederic Bouhier Imbert-Terry from Devon in
England to be used as a private Estate.
1940s - the Castle was used during the
Second World War as an Officers Rest Home.
1950s - the Estate Farms were sold with the
Castle being in need of restoration, so Captain
Frederic Bouhier Imbert-Terry put it up for
sale.
1952 Feb - King George VI died with his
daughter becoming Queen Elizabeth II, with his
wife becoming Queen Mother.
1952 - the Queen Mother bought Barrogill
Castle to be used as a Holiday Home, spending
vast amounts of money restoring the Castle,
renaming it Castle of Mey.
2002 - the Queen Mother died age 101, with
the Castle then opened to the paying public to
help with the upkeep.
The Queen mother is said to have left
£7 million in debts, paid off by her
daughter, Queen Elizabeth.
Canisbay Kirk is 4 miles east of the
Castle of Mey, where there are a number of
Sinclair's buried, including Sir James
Sinclair, 12th Earl of Caithness, 1766 -
1823.
Most Caithness Sinclair's are buried at St
Fergus Church in Wick, or Holyrood Abbey in
Edinburgh.
Wiki Links
Castle of
Mey
Queen
Mother
Earls of
Caithness
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