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Garden Name: Castle of Mey
Last Modified: 20/01/2011
Garden ID: 0486

pic: 0486_castleMey.jpg

Owner: The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust
Address:
Thurso
Caithness
Highland
Postcode: KW14 8XH
County: Scotland

tel: 01847 851473
fax: 01847 851475
website: www.castleofmey.org.uk
email: enquiries {at} castleofmey.org.uk

Features: 


English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
3rd Apr - Mothering Sunday
22nd - 25th Apr - Easter
1st May - 30th Sept; daily; 9.20am - 5pm, last admisssion 4pm. 
Closed 28th July - 8th Aug inclusive

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
Second half of August and September

To see: 


National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: SGS: 6th July, 14th July, 13th Aug

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: 
Comments: If possible 

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: 1st May - 17th Oct; daily; 10.30am - 4pm

Admission Prices:
Adults £9.50; Child (5 -16) £4; Concessions & coach parties £8.50 pp; Family £23
Gardens only £4; Family £12
Garden Tours: at £8.50 per person. These tours must be booked and paid for in advance. Tel: 01847851531 to book.

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: No
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Only on Lead: Yes
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
Partially disabled access only, please telephone in advance. A new viewing tower has recently been built in the walled garden. There is also an animal centre for children, (but much enjoyed by many adults too).
15th May - 10K Mey run
Private garden tours starting at 4.00 pm with the Head Gardener are available on 6 and 14 July, 17 and 25 August and 7 September 2011


Designer: Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
Description of Garden:
The walled garden is is in the classic Scottish walled garden style with vegetables in the middle and herbaceous borders and fruit trees around the sides. Two new rose gardens are now are now coming into their own.


The East Garden has a large round bed of primulas and wooded policies.


History: 
In 1952 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother bought the Castle of Mey and began to repair it and develop the gardens. She opened the gardens to the public in that year under Scotland's Garden Scheme and every year since this policy has continued.

Fortunately, HRH the Prince of Wales, as President of the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust takes considerable interest in the garden.

Local Inns: 
Castle Arms Hotel, Mey 01847 851244

Accomodation: 
Royal Hotel, Thurso 01847 893191

Restaurants: 
Captain's Galley, Scrabster, Thurso 01847 894999

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
John O'Groats - 8 miles
Thurso - 14 miles
Wick - 20 miles