# Castle of Mey
**Castle of Mey**, formerly known as **Barrogill Castle**, is a sixteenth-century Z-plan castle on the north coast of Scotland in [Caithness](https://www.edgepedia.org/caithness), about 5 miles (8 km) west of John O'Groats and 15 miles (24 km) east of Thurso[1](https://her.highland.gov.uk/monument/MHG2241) • [2](https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=1505%3A300%3A%3A%3A%3A%3AVIEWTYPE%2CVIEWREF%3Adesignation%2CGDL00096). Built by the Sinclair earls of Caithness, it remained in the family's possession almost continuously until the late nineteenth century, and after a period of neglect it was bought and restored by [Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother](https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-elizabeth-the-queen-mother) from 1952[1](https://her.highland.gov.uk/monument/MHG2241) • [3](https://www.invertedsheep.com/castle-of-mey-scotlands-homeliest-castle/). It is a Category A listed building, and its garden and designed landscape are separately designated[4](https://www.clanrising.com/castles/scotland/castle-of-mey) • [2](https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=1505%3A300%3A%3A%3A%3A%3AVIEWTYPE%2CVIEWREF%3Adesignation%2CGDL00096).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | North coast of Scotland, Caithness, about 5 miles (8 km) west of John O'Groats and 15 miles (24 km) east of Thurso[2](https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=1505%3A300%3A%3A%3A%3A%3AVIEWTYPE%2CVIEWREF%3Adesignation%2CGDL00096) |
| Built | Probably between 1566 and 1572 by George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness, possibly over an earlier fortification[4](https://www.clanrising.com/castles/scotland/castle-of-mey) |
| Plan | Basically a Z-plan castle of the later sixteenth century, much altered by nineteenth-century crenellation and heightening[1](https://her.highland.gov.uk/monument/MHG2241) |
| Ownership | Built by the Sinclairs and held by them virtually unbroken until the late nineteenth century[1](https://her.highland.gov.uk/monument/MHG2241) |
| Royal connection | Bought and restored by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who stayed there four weeks every August and 10 days every October until her death in 2001, aged 101[1](https://her.highland.gov.uk/monument/MHG2241) • [5](https://lvbmag.com/2019/09/11/the-queen-mother-the-castle-of-mey-caithness/) |
| Designations | Category A listing (LB1797, Castle of Mey and Garden Walls), listed 13 April 1971; the designed landscape is also designated[4](https://www.clanrising.com/castles/scotland/castle-of-mey) • [2](https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=1505%3A300%3A%3A%3A%3A%3AVIEWTYPE%2CVIEWREF%3Adesignation%2CGDL00096) |
| Today | Opened regularly to the public by the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust after the Queen Mother's death, as a historic house museum[4](https://www.clanrising.com/castles/scotland/castle-of-mey) |
## Architecture
The main block lies east to west, is three storeys and an attic in height, and has thick walls with gunloops. A square wing projects at the southwest end and a smaller square stair-tower stands to the northeast, each rising a storey higher than the main building. An unusual feature is a massive chimney-stack at the east end. To the north there is a curtain-walled courtyard entered by a round-arched gateway[1](https://her.highland.gov.uk/monument/MHG2241).
The building that survives was probably raised between 1566 and 1572 by George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness, possibly over an earlier fortification, as a dominating tower with tall ranges to the side and rear forming a three-sided courtyard left open to the north and the sea[4](https://www.clanrising.com/castles/scotland/castle-of-mey). Its appearance has been much altered by nineteenth-century crenellation and heightening[1](https://her.highland.gov.uk/monument/MHG2241).
## Later Sinclair alterations
In 1819 the twelfth Earl commissioned the architect William Burn to make ambitious alterations. These included building a proper frontage to the south, and extending the facade, adding a west wing, and cutting down the turret roofs and crowning them with battlements[6](https://www.highlifehighland.com/uploads/documents/Archives/Castle_of_Mey_Storyboard_and_Questions.pdf).
## The Queen Mother's restoration
The castle passed out of the original family and was sold a couple of times before being bought in 1952 by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, widow of King George VI[3](https://www.invertedsheep.com/castle-of-mey-scotlands-homeliest-castle/). After a three-year reconstruction she rebranded the property as the Castle of Mey, restoring its original name in place of Barrogill[5](https://lvbmag.com/2019/09/11/the-queen-mother-the-castle-of-mey-caithness/) • [7](https://castlescotland.app/mey-castle/).
She spent four weeks every August and 10 days every October at the castle until her death in 2001, aged 101[5](https://lvbmag.com/2019/09/11/the-queen-mother-the-castle-of-mey-caithness/). [Historic Environment Scotland](https://www.edgepedia.org/historic-environment-scotland) records the castle's outstanding historical value as arising from its associations both with the Royal Family and with the Earls of Caithness, and its designed landscape as making a major contribution to the surrounding scenery[2](https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=1505%3A300%3A%3A%3A%3A%3AVIEWTYPE%2CVIEWREF%3Adesignation%2CGDL00096).
## Protection and visiting
The castle and garden walls were listed Category A on 13 April 1971, as designation LB1797[4](https://www.clanrising.com/castles/scotland/castle-of-mey) • [8](https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=1505%3A300%3A%3A%3A%3A%3AVIEWTYPE%2CVIEWREF%3Adesignation%2CLB1797). After the Queen Mother's death, the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust opened the castle and garden regularly, and the site operates as a historic house museum[4](https://www.clanrising.com/castles/scotland/castle-of-mey). The trust has also developed visitor facilities, with work reported on a 10-bedroom conference center in a historic granary a short distance from the castle[9](https://www.countrylife.co.uk/architecture/castle-mey-inside-queen-mothers-beloved-home-scotland-191789). The castle lies on the North Highland Way, a walking route from [John o' Groats](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-o-groats) to Durness, and the Castle of Mey organization has been working to improve access around the site[10](https://www.visitscotland.com/info/tours/from-inverness-castle-to-the-castle-of-mey-7cf3e707).
## References
1. [MHG2241 - Castle of Mey, Highland Historic Environment Record](https://her.highland.gov.uk/monument/MHG2241)
2. [Castle of Mey (Barrogill Castle) GDL00096, Historic Environment Scotland](https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=1505%3A300%3A%3A%3A%3A%3AVIEWTYPE%2CVIEWREF%3Adesignation%2CGDL00096)
3. [Exploring Mey - Scotland's Homeliest Castle, Inverted Sheep](https://www.invertedsheep.com/castle-of-mey-scotlands-homeliest-castle/)
4. [Castle of Mey, History & What It Looked Like, Clan Rising](https://www.clanrising.com/castles/scotland/castle-of-mey)
5. [Lavender's Blue: The Queen Mother + The Castle of Mey Caithness](https://lvbmag.com/2019/09/11/the-queen-mother-the-castle-of-mey-caithness/)
6. [Castle of Mey storyboard, High Life Highland archives](https://www.highlifehighland.com/uploads/documents/Archives/Castle_of_Mey_Storyboard_and_Questions.pdf)
7. [Castle of Mey: Queen Mother's Home, History & Visiting](https://castlescotland.app/mey-castle/)
8. [Castle of Mey and Garden Walls LB1797, Historic Environment Scotland](https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=1505%3A300%3A%3A%3A%3A%3AVIEWTYPE%2CVIEWREF%3Adesignation%2CLB1797)
9. [The Castle of Mey: Inside the Queen Mother's beloved home in Scotland, Country Life](https://www.countrylife.co.uk/architecture/castle-mey-inside-queen-mothers-beloved-home-scotland-191789)
10. [From Inverness Castle to the Castle of Mey, VisitScotland](https://www.visitscotland.com/info/tours/from-inverness-castle-to-the-castle-of-mey-7cf3e707)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Architecture, buildings, and civil works › Buildings and architectural ensembles › Castles › Castles of the British Isles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license