Members learned about the history of the site that dates from 1150 and its connection with the Royal Family of Scotland.

Much of the turbulent history of Scotland from the 12th to the 18th Centuries is also recounted by an audio-visual presentation in the Castle's video room.

The Castle has four floors and the tour includes the Great Hall, Chapel, Dining Room, Vine Room, Dressing Room, Earl's Room, Professor's Room, Blue Room, Nursery, Lorimer Room and the Kitchen.



The Walled Garden is Victorian in design and has been restored several times following periods of neglect.

Many older varieties of flowers, fruit trees and bushes have been preserved together with a kitchen garden with vegetables and herbs. The accent today is on organic growing methods.

Some twenty-four members of the Society enjoyed an excellent day out at Kellie Castle & Garden.

Leaving Bonnyrigg at 12 noon, by coach, the group travelled via Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy arriving at about 1.30pm. After some light refreshments in the cafeteria, members toured the Castle and Walled Garden.

The return journey in the early evening was via the Fife Coast. The good weather added to our enjoyment





Members of the Lorimer family lived at Kellie Castle for around one hundred years from the 1870's until 1970. After seventy years as tenants, they bought the property in 1948. It remained in the family until 1970 when ownership passed to the National Trust for Scotland.

[Text and photographs by Neil Stewart]