Balintore Castle, Kirriemuir, United Kingdom

Balintore Castle occupies an elevated site in moorland above Balintore village. A tower house named Balintor existed on the site in the late 16th century.

It was designed in 1859 by the architect William Burn. A typical example of the Scottish Baronial style, it features an abundance of turreted towers and gables, and a gone oriel window. The main tower is topped by a balustraded viewing platform similar to that of Buchanan Castle.

The centrepiece of the interior is the great hall, and there is also a gallery, bedrooms, dinner service room, women servant’s sitting room, brushing room, beer cellar, lumber room, butler’s pantry, dining room, and a library.

Balintore Castle was commissioned as a sporting lodge by David Lyon, MP, who had inherited a fortune made by his family through investments in the East India Company. Latterly the castle was used only during the shooting season.

In the 1960s it was decided not to repair the extensive dry rot, and it was abandoned. The castle then stood empty until 2007, during which time its condition deteriorated to point of endangering the structure. Balintore Castle has been listed in the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland since it started in 1990. Angus Council used its compulsory purchase powers to buy it from its absentee Far Eastern owners, and it is now in the hands of a Scotsman who is restoring it and residing there.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Andy Lawler (6 months ago)
Balintore Castle is the closest you will get to a magical and realistic Victorian time-travel experience in the Highlands of Scotland. The Laird, David, is a thorough gentleman and welcomes you like a long lost friend. From the moment you arrive you become and are made to feel part of the Balintore Castle family, breathing life back into a beautiful and historic building that the host has passionately saved from dereliction, with an energy and enthusiasm capable of overcoming all adversity. Castles are cold places especially when they are up a mountain in the middle of nowhere, but the host had a cosy log fire going for our arrival and later in the evening was happy to share a wee dram for some traditional warmth. Balintore Castle isn’t for everyone and is still very much work in progress, but if you like hard history and want to join in with the pleasures and struggles of a bygone age, then then a truly authentic experience awaits. For us, there are not enough superlatives to describe our time at Balintore Castle, the place and the people will be forever in our hearts and we are already looking forward to our next visit

Javi _ (8 months ago)
Stunning building in a jaw-dropping location. We stayed in the beautiful kitchen wing (new rooms were being refurbished at the time of our visit) and we enjoyed every second there (having walks in the beautiful surroundings, having a tea next to the fireplace and seeing how the refurbishment of the castle is bringing it back to life) Honestly, cannot think of a better place where to have a break. Dog friendly too. We will be back!

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According to a traditional account, a small Visigoth church, the Catholic Basilica of Saint Vincent of Lérins, originally stood on the site. In 784 Abd al-Rahman I ordered construction of the Great Mosque, which was considerably expanded by later Muslim rulers. The mosque underwent numerous subsequent changes: Abd al-Rahman II ordered a new minaret, while in 961 Al-Hakam II enlarged the building and enriched the Mihrab. The last of such reforms was carried out by Almanzor in 987. It was connected to the Caliph"s palace by a raised walkway, mosques within the palaces being the tradition for previous Islamic rulers – as well as Christian Kings who built their palaces adjacent to churches. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard.

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