The Castle & Gardens of Mey

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Thurso, Scotland
The Castle & Gardens of Mey

🏰 The most northerly inhabited castle on mainland Britain
📍Visit, stay or celebrate a special event with us
👑 Part of The King's Foundation

The Castle of Mey was the property of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1952 until 1996, when Her Majesty generously gifted it with an endowment to the Trust. The castle is situated on the north coast of Caithness, in the parish of Canisbay, about 15 miles east of Thurso and six miles west of John O'Groats. It stands on rising ground about 400 yards from the seashore, overlooking the Pentland

Firth and the Orkney Islands. It is thought that a fortified granary occupied the site originally. Constructed on a z-plan, the castle was built between 1566 and 1572. Seen from a distance, its turreted aspect is very striking. The jutting towers and corbelled turrets are typical of that period of the 16th century, particularly the chequered character of the corbelling of the smaller turrets. The parapet of the large turret is supported on winged cherub heads as corbels, similar to those on Carberry Tower, Midlothian. There are numerous gun slits throughout the ground floor, several in the angles of the tower and more at first-floor level. The round arched entrance to the courtyard, on the north aspect is unaltered. The walled garden and parkland to the west and the east border and parkland to the east are protected by the Great Wall of Mey - 12 feet high - which gives very necessary protection from the severe gales and salt spray.

05/09/2026

Working for people, places and planet 💚

On , learn more about what we do at The King's Foundation - His Majesty's nature and sustainability charity 🌿

19/08/2026

From the archive 📸

On , look back at some iconic shots of our Royal Founding President, King Charles III, pictured at our King's Foundation sites 🏘️

1 - His Majesty, then Prince of Wales, at the entrance to Dumfries House in 2018.
2 - The King, as Prince of Wales, photographed in the early days of Highgrove Gardens 📸
3 - The then Prince of Wales pictured at the opening of the Granary Lodge at the The Castle & Gardens of Mey in 2019 🏰
4 - His Majesty speaks to King's Foundation furniture-making students at the Garrison Chapel in 2023 🎄
5 - The King, as Prince of Wales, visits The King's Foundation School of Traditional Arts 2013 Degree Show 🖼️

13/08/2026

The Castle of Mey is open for tours 💫

Join us every Wednesday to Sunday from 11am until last admission at 3pm 🏰

Plan your visit at the link below 🔗

We look forward to welcoming you!

https://www.castleofmey.org.uk/visitor-info

11/08/2026

Our gardens at The Castle of Mey will reopen to the public this Wednesday 12th August 🌳

Carefully maintained by our team, our gardens are a must-see on your visit to the far north of Scotland 🌹

The gardens are open from 10.30am until 4pm, visit the link for more information 🔗

www.castleofmey.org.uk

📸 Chris Watt

07/08/2026

Celebrating a new addition to The Castle of Mey’s Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden.

The King’s Rose (Ausa27a16), which was cultivated by David Austin Roses in partnership with The King's Foundation and named in His Majesty’s honour, has been added to the Castle’s Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden.

As part of the collaboration with David Austin Roses, £2.50 from the sale of each rose is donated to support the work of The King’s Foundation charity, which manages the Castle of Mey. The King’s Rose has also been planted at King’s Foundation sister sites, Dumfries House and Highgrove Gardens.

📸 Chris Watt

06/08/2026

The King's Rose has been planted at The Castle of Mey 🌹

His Majesty has begun his summer break in Scotland at The Castle and Gardens of Mey, which once belonged to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. To mark the occasion, The King has planted a new addition to the Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden, The King's Rose.

Purchased by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1952, The Castle and Gardens of Mey in Caithness is today managed and run by The King's Foundation, His Majesty’s nature and sustainability charity. 💚

05/08/2026

Summer in the gardens at The Castle of Mey 🌸🌷

04/08/2026

On this day, in 1900, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was born.

The Queen Mother purchased the Castle of Mey in 1952 and spent time at the Castle during the summer every year, a tradition which His Majesty continues today.

Over her lifetime, The Queen Mother made significant contributions to the Castle and Gardens, including their restoration and renovation 🏰🌹

03/08/2026

The Castle and Gardens of Mey is currently closed and will reopen to the public on Wednesday 12th August ✨

For enquiries, please email [email protected] or call us on 01847 851473.

We look forward to welcoming you ☀️

19/06/2026

Volunteers work alongside our Garden Team and do a valuable job to help the gardens look their best.
If you have a spare morning, afternoon or even a regular weekly day and want to learn more about gardening, increase your activity levels and boost your mental health, come along and see if you enjoy it!
If this is something that you’d be interested in please get in touch with our Head Gardener Chris at:
[email protected]

Address

Castle Of Mey
Thurso
KW148XH

Telephone

+441847851473

Website

http://castleofmey.org.uk/

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