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Braemar fortress restored by community

Prince Charles set to visit haunted castle

The Duke of Rothesay is to visit a haunted refurbished Scottish castle with strong links to his family.

Braemar Castle is now being restored by the village community – and Prince Charles will see the work for himself on Tuesday.

The early 17th century castle, which had been closed to the public since 2005, is now in the care of the village of Braemar.

Local landowners, the Farquharsons of Invercauld, have handed it over to the community on a 50- year lease. It re-opened in May.

Braemar Castle was built by the Erskine Earls of Mar to replace nearby Kindrochit Castle which was thought to have been destroyed by cannon because its inhabitants contracted the plague.

Family feuds, local skirmishes and bloodshed were some of the characteristics of the history of Mar up to the 1745 rebellion.

The feudal authority of the Earls of Mar were repeatedly challenged by other powerful families such as Gordon, Forbes and Farquharson.

By way of stamping his authority in the area, John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1558-1634) started building Braemar Castle in 1628.

As well as a fortified place, the castle also served as a hunting tower.

In 1689, the unsuccessful attempt by John Grahame of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee) to re-establish the Stuart monarchy against that of the Dutch King William resulted in the occupation of the castle by government troops.

They narrowly missed capturing the Farquharson leader, John Farquharson of Inverey (the Black Colonel).

He then attacked the castle, drove the garrison out and burned the building.

The castle lay in ruins for almost 60 years.

His ghost is said to still stalk the castle.

Other phantoms include a young blonde woman, a Scottish piper and a crying baby thought to be that of an infant murdered in the castle.

Queen Victoria used to visit the castle when she attended the nearby Braemar Gathering – which is attended every year by the Royal Family.