We start the day with a much needed hair cut for Tim. He weares a cap for the rest of the day so the result remain a cliffhanger. We leave at 9 for an hour drive East to Aberdeenshire.
We start with Pitmedden Garden. It is the largest surviving parterre in Scotland and dates from around 1675. Olga took over Tims camera while Cleo and Tim look for all six sun dials.
There are indeed stunning geometric partrerres and long, varied borders. We always applaud every bee and butterfly and there are many in this garden.
Tolquhon Castle is almost next door. The children get an explorer bag and are busy with their binoccular and flashlight to investigate all high towers and dark corners of the castle. This gives Tim and Olga some freedom to read all information signs and find the underground jail and secret rooms.
Although no roof remain, multiple stair cases allow access to four ranges surrounding the inner courtyard.
We are very lucky with the weather today. When we’re in the car, it’s raining heavy. Olga always says it will be dry when we arrive, Tim laughs at her, but she’s always right. We take the raincoats with us to be sure, but we never need them.
We’re less lucky at Haddo House. Although it’s dry again, we can only visit the house with a guided tour and we have to wait 1,5 hour for the next tour. We don’t have time for such a wait as we have more castles to explore. So, we do a quick trip to the garden, check it out from the air, and go back to our car.
Fyvie castle is our final stop of the day. Also this castle can only be visited with a guide. We prepare the kids that it will take long and that they cannot touch anything nor be loud. Not a lot of fun for them, but luckily they behave relatively well.
Fyvie castle is home to one of Scotlands best art collections and the the interior is very well decorated. Some of the 17th century plaster ceilings are still original and we count 22 coats of arms in the hall way. The oldest part of the castle dates back to 1390 and since then five families added parts and constructed towers. It was originally built as a Royal hunting lodge.
The castle is also known for many spooky stories and our guide explains them all. From blocked rooms because every men that entered in the past died soon after (and their wives got blind) to the curse that every first male born would not inherit the castle (which is true for at least the past 500 years).
We drive back through the rain but at the park the sun is shining and the children get to run around. Olga checks with the reception about the road closure because of Trumps visit, there is no way around it, Monday and Tuesday we cant get on or off the park from 12.30 until 17.30. So we just have to find some great things to do elsewhere.
