CASTLES BRECHIN

Edzell Castle is a 16th-century ruined fortress near Brechin in Angus, Scotland, renowned for its remarkable early-17th-century walled garden created in 1604. The castle originated around 1520 under David Lindsay, 9th Earl of Crawford, and hosted notable royal guests including Mary Queen of Scots and James VI. The distinctive ornamental garden features box-trimmed parterres representing the Fleur de Lys, Scottish Thistle, and English Rose, along with fine carved stone panels depicting the Seven Cardinal Virtues, Seven Liberal Arts, and Seven Planetary Deities. The site operates seasonally and remains one of Scotland's finest examples of Renaissance garden design.

Invermark Castle is a 16th-century tower house located at the head of Glen Esk near Brechin in Angus, Scotland. Built on the site of a 14th-century castle, this oblong fortification stands at the meeting point of Glen Lee and Glen Mark, surrounded by mountainous terrain and dense tree growth. The castle's remote setting and medieval architectural elements showcase the craftsmanship of the period, though it remains partially visible only when approached closely due to surrounding woodland. While not fully open to the public, the castle's exterior offers insight into 16th-century Scottish military architecture and its strategic positioning in the rugged Highlands.

Brechin Castle stands prominently above the River Southesk on a massive rocky bluff in Brechin, Angus, Scotland, occupying a site of royal Scottish fortress heritage dating centuries before the current structure. The castle was extensively rebuilt in stone between 1696 and 1709 by architect Alexander Edward for James Maule, 4th Earl of Panmure, creating an impressive irregular rectangular plan with turreted central block and courtyard. Surrounded by 40 acres of landscaped parkland and an 18th-century walled garden considered among Scotland's finest private gardens, Brechin Castle remains the seat of the Earl of Dalhousie and home to Clan Maule of Panmure. The estate features a 17th-century sundial relocated from Panmure House, connecting layers of aristocratic history within this commanding Tayside landscape.