Blair Castle - Caisteil Bhlàir

Blair Castle - Caisteil Bhlàir is located near the village of Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Blàr Athall, Siorrachd Pheairt, Alba). It is off the A9 road about 30 miles north of the city of Perth (Scottish Gaelic: Scottish Gaelic: Peairt). The earliest part of castle, Cumming's Tower, dates from 1269 and was extended in 1530 to create a Great Hall. Significant remodelling was undertaken on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is the ancestral home of the Clan Murray, and was historically the seat of their chief, the Duke of Atholl. The castle is open to the public and as home to the Dukes of Atholl the castle tours describe the history of the castle and family and their involvement in the history of Scotland/Alba and the Isle of Man/Mannin. The castle and grounds are open from the beginning of April to the end of October in the summer time and at weekends in the winter. Information can be obtained from their website www.blair-castle.co.uk

Image: Bookplate with arms of 7th to 9th Dukes of Atholl, 1910 image courtesy of wikimedia commons.