Blair Castle
Blair Castle is located in the village of Blair Atholl, in the town of Pitlochry, Scotland. The castle is the ancestral home of the Murray Clan. Over 19 generations of the Stewarts and Murray’s of Atholl lived at the castle. The earliest part of the present castle is Comyn’s Tower, which was built in 1269. The Great Hall was added in 1530, along with a series of vaulted chambers below. In 1740, the castle was transformed into a Georgian house with elaborate plasterwork and cabinets. The 7thDuke of Atholl had the exterior remodeled in the late 19thcentury. The crenellations and turrets that were removed during the Georgian period were reinstated, and a new entrance hall and ballroom were added. Upgrades that included bathrooms, telephones, and gas were also added at this time. During WWI, the castle was used at an auxiliary hospital and the family lived in the private apartments. In 1908, a hydroelectric system was reinstated to provide power to the castle. An exhibition hall was also added to display the furnishings and paintings collected throughout the castle’s history. Blair Castle is open to the public. The castle has a gift shop, the Tullibardine Restaurant, kids activities, and a variety of self-catering accommodations available on the property. (Currently closed)
