BMW Car Club - Scotland

Aberdeen Mini Meet 16th March 2008

Words & Pics - Pete Skene

Well 3 members made it to today's last minute organized Meet in the North Myself,Neil Tulloch and Peter Cormack set off just before 11am and headed for Kildrummy Castle Hotel.We chose to go the Alford road to what later became a really bad idea as there was a huge cylcle road race as well as the sunday drivers that would not over take a cycle let alone a car.I was leading the way,so chose to turn off for Midmar and onto the A980 and taking in some fine,but rather Muddy roads on our route to Kildrummy,but hey it missed out those cyclists

We arrived at the stunning Kildrummy Castle Hotel around 12 noon.I asked if it were possible for some tea and Scones,but they were only serving 3 or 4 courses lunches,so we gave that a miss at that prices.It was then decided we head out the Strathdon road and see what was there.On route we came accross Glenbuchat Castle up on the hill,so we went for a closer look.

Glenbuchat Castle is a Z-plan castle built for John Gordon of Cairnburrow in 1590. In 1701 it was bought by a different branch of the Gordon family and became the home of another John Gordon who came to be known as 'Old Glenbucket' (an older spelling of Glenbuchat). He was a prominent supporter of the Jacobite cause and a hero of the Jacobite Risings of 1715 and 1745. Such was his infamy that he is said to have haunted the dreams of King George II. By 1738 the castle had been abandoned as the Gordon family home and was already partly unroofed when it was sold to the Duff Earl of Fife.

The castle consists of a rectangular central tower with two square towers at diagonally opposing corners. There are two stair turrets that rise from the first floor level and are unusually supported by flying arches. The main entrance was protected by a wooden door that could only be opened if the iron yett (gate) behind it was opened first. There were cellars and a kitchen on the ground floor and the laird's hall and accommodation above. The interior was remodelled, probably soon after 1701, when the laird's hall was divided into two rooms and the ceiling lowered in order to fit in another floor above.We were all hungry by now,so decided to head back to Alford for lunch.The Vale inn was decided and what a fine lunch it was.Peter Cormack had to set of soon after as he has some household chores to do,so myself and Neil head over to Drum to visit Chas for Tea and Bics (Thanks Chas)but not before we removed 3 feet of mud from the cars

Anyway thanks for those that came today and hopefully the weather will improve for some more runs soon

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