Brodick Castle

Brodick Castle is the only proper historic structure on the Isle of Arran (apart from standing stones and cairns and such). The first version of it was built in the late 1200s, but it has been rebuilt several times, among other things because the English kept razing it to the ground. Most unsportsmanlike of 'em.

The property is now under care of the Trust for Scotland, and again the main reason for the transfer was to avoid the death tax, which according to the guy at the entrance was 80% in Scotland in the fifties. Iffin the inheritor who had paid 80% the first time died before ten years had passed, then the next in line also had to pay 80% on THAT. I'm amazed there are any grand properties still in private ownership in the British Isles.

This particular castle had been owned by the Hamiltons since the late 1400s, and the daughter of the woman who left the castle to the trust in her will, is still alive and will turn 92 in November. Now, I'm as republican as any man, but when I see some of the ties between the nobility and the locals in small places like Arran, ties that may have lasted for centuries, I am loth to see it all thrown away because of a fucking inheritance tax. Ugh.

Again, there was a ban on photography, something I'm beginning to suspect is official policy for all Trust for Scotland properties, in which case maybe "Trust" is the wrong word to call yourself. Hrmph! Anyway, most of the rooms are absolutely jam packed with portraits and porcelain, gilded furniture, richly decorated ceilings and every little posh detail the mind of a rich but bored Briton can think of. It must be nice to have silly money.

The gardens are also exquisite, both the formal ones and the more natural, with lots of plants and trees from other parts of the world. I believe I have mentioned the gulf stream earlier, and it has really blessed this island with a very pleasant, if wet climate. The sun's been shining all day and I've taken lots of pics, but I'm going to wait till I make a complete circumference of Arran on Sunday before I post them.

All pics of Brodick Castle here.

The castle today.


The formal garden.


The natural garden.


This cheeky little fella was so close I could have reached my hand out and touched him. Well, iffin he wasn't so jumpy it was all I could do to get in a reasonably decent picture of him.


There were some palm trees down the far end of this lane.