You can’t fail to be impressed by Edzell Castle and gardens. Enchanting red sandstone ruins of a structure, whose architectural elaboration were ahead of their day and quite unique in Scotland .
Towerhouse and Gardens
A Towerhouse set in a protected quadrangle with a sumptuous walled garden, Edzell is a romantic image of medieval nobility. The Edzell estate belonged to the Lindsays from 1358 until 1715, the castle itself dates back to the early 16th Century. The castle reflects the aspirations of this time of great affluence and social change and the important position of the Lindsays. Many important guests called at Edzell, Mary Queen of Scots stayed for two nights in August 1562 and her successor James VI also visited on numerous occasions between 1580-9, clearly impressed with what he encountered at Edzell.
Today’s remains offer an insight into life at the castle with many of the chambers of the Towerhouse intact but the most impressive feature is the delicate gardens and the intricate carvings adorning its protective wall. Built in 1603 by the then Laird, Sir David Lindsay, it is the crowning piece to Edzell. Figurines and crafted panels outline a variety of themes; the Planetary Deities, the Liberal Arts and the Cardinal Virtues, portraying Sir David as a man of great intellect as well as taste for his time. Such intricacies would have been quite unique to Scotland at this time, though more common in the gardens of Europe, in particular France. The summer house too is equally ornate and the gardens though replanted in 1930 capture their historic setting perfectly.
