Aberdour Castle
There are a number of locations that were used in the filming of the Outlander series, and I visited another one recently. Aberdour Castle is one of the oldest in Scotland and well worth a visit. It is a strange combination of preserved buildings and ruins, along with a restored walled garden and grounds that now appear as they would have centuries before. It was used to depict an Abbey, where the principal character Jamie recuperates after his time in Wentworth prison. The kitchen and gallery were used in filming.
The first hall house on this site dates from the early 12th century, with the conversion into a tower house during the 1400’s. Further work was carried out in the 16th century, including the terraced garden and beehive doocot. As with all historical sites, the passing of such properties to one family or another, or to individuals within the same family through the years, makes challenging reading. The official guidebook details this and there is information online if interested, so no need for me to repeat all of that here.
As noted above part of this castle is in ruins, while other parts are accessible. You can enter what is known as the gallery, where guests would have been entertained. The ceiling beams are exposed which is an impressive sight, though historically there may have been wooden panels put in place to conceal it. An inventory has survived from 1647, listing among other things, 46 pictures, 13 chairs, 18 stools, a marble table and a harpsichord. There is also a room with a painted ceiling dating from the 17th century that is quite magnificent. Although faded, you can make out fruit, flowers and cherubs. The camera on my phone did a good job of bringing out the design and what colours remain. Note there is no use of flash photography, and the door of that room must be kept closed, as maintaining a constant temperature is critical to maintaining the paintwork. There are a couple of places where you can view such ceilings, for example at Culross Palace, or Gladstone’s House in Edinburgh. Due to their delicate nature and the passing of time, most of these have not survived, so it’s good to see another example having been preserved.
On your way around the castle, look out for three sundials. You can also go inside the doocot for a look. When I was there, I didn’t see any pigeons, so should be quite safe if you are a bit nervous around such birds. Even if you don’t go in, you have a great view of the castle from that end of the grounds, and it’s a good vantage point to take photographs.
The Fiction Factory 