Scotland’s Most Storied Castle
Even by the richly theatrical standards of Scottish castles, Glamis stands apart. This vast, pink-harled pile rising from the flat farmland of Angus is a castle of almost excess grandeur: towers and turrets jostle against each other along its extraordinary skyline, while inside, room after room of richly decorated historic interiors speak of nine centuries of unbroken aristocratic habitation. Glamis is the ancestral home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and its connections with Scottish and British royalty are deeper and more intimate than almost any other private house in the country. It was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the birthplace of Princess Margaret, and the legendary setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It also boasts a collection of ghost stories remarkable even by Scottish standards.
Royal Connections
The royal associations that surround Glamis Castle are genuine and significant rather than merely decorative. The castle has been in the possession of the Lyon family — later the Bowes Lyon family — since 1372, and their long history of royal service and royal proximity has left deep traces throughout the building. Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, who grew up at Glamis, became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom when she married King George VI in 1923, and her association with the castle lent it a particular warmth in the public imagination throughout the 20th century. Her daughter, Princess Margaret, was born at Glamis in 1930. The castle’s connection to the Royal Family continues to the present day, and it remains a lived-in family home as well as a visitor attraction.
The Architecture
Glamis Castle is a building of extraordinary architectural drama. The central tower, rising to over 27 metres, is the oldest part of the current structure and dates from the 15th century, though there has been a royal castle on the site since at least the 11th century. Over the following centuries, wings, towers, and additional ranges were added by successive generations, creating a complex and picturesque silhouette that seems to have been designed by someone who enjoyed the process of castle-building far too much to ever stop. The exterior is rendered in a warm pink harl that catches the light magnificently at different times of day, and the formal approach through the estate, framed by rows of mature trees, builds the sense of anticipation beautifully.
Macbeth and the Legends
Glamis Castle’s association with Shakespeare’s Macbeth is one of the most famous in Scottish literary heritage, though the historical basis for the connection is somewhat complex. Shakespeare set his Scottish tragedy partly at Glamis, and while the historical Macbeth did have some connection to the area, the castle as we know it postdates the real events of the 11th century by several hundred years. Nevertheless, the association has stuck firmly in the popular imagination, and visiting Glamis with the drama of Shakespeare’s play in mind adds a powerfully atmospheric dimension to the experience. The castle’s own legends are no less dramatic: among the many ghost stories attached to the building, the most famous involves a secret room said to contain a terrible family secret — the exact nature of which has been the subject of speculation for centuries.
Exploring the Castle
Guided tours of Glamis’s principal rooms are offered throughout the visitor season, and they represent excellent value for the depth of historical and personal detail they provide. The drawing rooms, dining room, and family apartments display furnishings and personal effects that bring the castle’s history to life with an immediacy that purely institutional displays rarely achieve. The castle’s crypt is a particularly atmospheric space, with its massive vaulted ceiling and collection of armour and weapons. The chapel, decorated with important 17th-century painted panels, is one of the finest private chapels in Scotland. Throughout the tour, the guides — many of them local to the area and with a genuine personal connection to the castle’s story — provide commentary that is both informative and entertaining.
The Grounds
Glamis Castle’s grounds are a significant attraction in their own right. The Italian Garden and Dutch Garden, laid out in the early 20th century, are beautifully maintained and provide a formal contrast to the wildness of the wider parkland. The walled kitchen garden has been restored in recent years and is a working productive space as well as a visitor attraction. The wider grounds, with their ancient trees and peaceful walking paths, are ideal for exploring at leisure, and the views back to the castle from the estate’s approach are among the finest architectural vistas in Scotland.
Visiting Glamis
Glamis Castle is located in the village of Glamis in Angus, just off the A94 road, approximately 20 kilometres north of Dundee and 16 kilometres south of Kirriemuir. By car from Dundee, the journey takes around 25 minutes. The castle is open daily from April through October, and guided tours depart at regular intervals throughout the day. Advance booking is recommended during the busy summer season. The estate also hosts a range of special events throughout the year, including ghost tours, whisky evenings, and a popular Christmas market, which are well worth checking when planning a visit. Glamis is simply one of those Scottish castles that rewards everything you invest in visiting it — and then some.