Our ‘Golden’ Summer Blog Series: Part V- Drum Castle

*We continue our ‘Golden’ Summer Blog series, where our Golden Retriever explorer, Walter, brings you on a trip to Drum Castle.

Walter’s Travel Journal: Day 5- Drum Castle

I just have to say that I love camping and being in nature so much. There’s something exhilarating about taking in so much fresh air. I think my wee brother, Arthur, has been enjoying himself as well, but he is a little apprehensive about the ‘sounds’ he says he keeps hearing at night. I haven’t heard anything, but I let him cuddle with me just so he stops asking me what every ‘noise’ is every few minutes. Anyway, we’ve been having such a great time in Aberdeenshire, and I’ve just been told that today’s adventure is to Drum Castle.

As we walk up to the Castle, I just know we are in for a day filled with adventure! I stop and take an obligatory photo for Dad. I don’t mind though because I like to have all the pictures as keepsakes.

Mom and Dad have just given me a bit of the historical background, so I’ll share some of that with you. The lands at Drum were given to the Irvine family by King Robert the Bruce in 1323. I know all about him, and I recently wrote about the Bruce Festival we attended that was specifically held to celebrate his life. Anyway, the Irvine family held the Castle for over 650 years! Notably, their descendants spread all over the world, including to Germany and the United States.

Now, as chief canine tour guide on our Edinburgh walking tours, I do love helping dad tell a good story. Therefore, I am so excited to share with you one that one of the most famous Irvine descendants is Washington Irving. As in the author of ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ and ‘Rip van Wrinkle’! Mom and Dad have read both stories to me, but ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ is probably my favourite. Some of it was a bit scary, and last Halloween I might have let my fears get the best of me when I worried that our pumpkin was really the headless horseman’s. Dad gently reminded me that we’ve heard scarier myths on our travels around Scotland.

As I’ve previously stated, I take my job as mentor and trainer to Arthur very serious. However, he appears to be taking the whole process a little more light-hearted than I would like. For example, I’m trying to be professional and pose around Drum Castle for Dad. But do you see how much he moves?! I’m doing my best to convey the concepts of sit, stay, smile, but it has been very tricky to get Arthur to do so.

Despite his silliness, Dad was able to get a nice shot of us.

With that out of the way, let’s walk around the grounds and estate a bit. Do you see that tower to the left of the Castle? That is much older than the rest of Drum and probably dates to 1323. In fact, it is one of the three oldest tower houses in Scotland. Unfortunately, water gets in at the top of the tower and seeps into the mortar. This creates a hazard and the National Trust for Scotland (who care for the Castle) has had to put up barriers for health and safety reasons.

We’re now entering the Old Wood of Drum which is part of the Royal Forest of Drum. During medieval times, the kings of Scotland once hunted in this forest. I can just imagine them galloping through these trees on their majestic steeds. This is a lovely place for a wee ‘explore and discover’ mission, and I’m on alert for the red squirrels that are said to make this place their home.

Making our way back closer to the Castle, I see a picturesque stone building that Dad says is a chapel that dates to the 1500s. I’m not allowed inside, but here are some pictures of it. Isn’t it beautiful?

One sad but touching area near the chapel is the graveyard for family pets. With my dear brothers, Sawyer and Finn, already crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, I know all too well how important is to honour and remember your animal family members, and I’m glad to see that they have done so at Drum Castle.

Speaking of beautiful, the gardens at Drum Castle are next on our tour, and I’ve heard they’re spectacular. Arthur and I are not allowed inside, but Mom and Dad told us all about it and showed us their pictures. Located within the Walled Garden is the Garden of Historic Roses. It is divided into quadrants that illustrate how gardening has changed from the 17^th century to the 20^th century. Each quadrant represents a different century of gardening with plants that reflect what would have been available to a gardener of the appropriate era. According to the NTS, “roses form the staple component, but these are complemented by other planting of an appropriate period style, mainly herbaceous perennials, but some other annuals, shrubs and even small trees”.

As with the Garden, Arthur and I are waiting outside while Mom and Dad take turns touring inside Drum Castle. Over the centuries, the Castle has witnessed many historical events, including the Jacobite uprisings, and its architecture reflects this evolving past with a blend of medieval, Jacobean, and Victorian styles. It boasts a collection of exquisite antiques and art, telling stories of its former inhabitants. Based on Dad’s pictures, I have two favourites from the Castle interior- the Drawing Room and the Library.

The Drawing Room was originally a Jacobean high hall, then a Georgian dining room, and finally it was converted to a Victorian drawing room. It is a cosy room where I could see myself curling up in front of the fireplace in the winter, enjoying a nice nap after a long day training Arthur.

We next head to the library which is located in the original tower. It was created in the 1840s in the Scottish Baronial style. This is another inviting room, where I would love to relax and listen to Mom read me a story. Perhaps something (appropriately) by Washington Irving.

Here are some more photos from our visit to Drum Castle (keep an eye out for a bust of my namesake, Sir Walter Scott):

I hope you have enjoyed this wee adventure to Drum Castle as we continue our Grand Scottish Tour of Aberdeenshire. Mom told me to remind you to go to the National Trust for Scotland website to learn more about how you can plan your own visit to Drum Castle- which we highly recommend!

Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog as Arthur and I still have quite a few more stops on our ‘Golden’ Summer Blog series. You can also follow our explorations on our social media platforms- Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, YouTube, and TikTok.

Until next time- Explore & Discover!

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