Kellie Castle Fife Scotland

Photos and Info on Kellie Castle Pittenweem Fife Scotland

Kellie Castle Fife Scotland

As part of the St Andrews Poetry Festival this year I was lucky enough to spend a day at Kellie Castle in a workshop led by Sandy - I thought you might enjoy seeing some of my photographs in and around the castle.

There has been a dwelling on this site for something like 600 years though not in its present form. The first would have been a typical Scottish tower house, a simple tower with thick walls, narrow windows, winding stone stairs and tiny rooms. There was probably a 'great hall' the largest room with two fireplaces to heat. Everyone from Laird down would dine there before the top table retired to the 'withdrawing room'. The tiny rooms remain as do the uneven stone stairs.

Kellie Castle and the Jackdaws

Approaching Kellie through a little woodland walk filled with snowdrops the first thing that struck me was the jackdaws. They really set the scene so I wasn't really surprised to learn they form part of the history of the place.

Kellie lay empty for a long time until taken over by the Lorimer family in the 1870s. The walls were sound but the roof was not and when they bought it for a holiday home it was inhabited by crows and owls. There is an inscription above one of the doors that was translated for me by a Latin professor who was also attending the workshop. It reads - "This dwelling place was torn from the crows and owls and dedicated to honest leisure upon toil."  I suspect it was hard work getting the place in enough order to actually live in.

Latin inscription at Kellie Castle

The workshop was about the tradition of ballad and we were asked what we would like to write about it - for me it was the atmosphere of the jackdaws and my poem will eventually be the jacks talking about the castle, the people and, in true ballad tradition, the ghosts. I say eventually as it is very much a work in progress... at the moment just think of Jacks screeching caws against castle walls.

Jackdaws at Kellie Castle

PHOTO GALLERY KELLIE CASTLE IN SPRING

I think this is the first tower - a second was built further over and the two eventually joined by the straight section later.  

Kellie Castle

Kellie Castle Pittenweem Fife

Of course every castle needs a walled garden and Kellie is no exception.  In secret it is lovely but of course a bit bare right now.  You will receive a warm running welcome from the three resident hens though. I don't think I have seen one move so fast - obviously well used to being fed by visitors. 

Kellie Castle from the walled garden

Kellie Castle from the walled garden

Kellie Castle from the walled garden  with sundial

getting ready for Spring at Kellie Castle Fife

residents -

chickens in wall garden Kellie castle

chickens in wall garden Kellie castle

Spending a penny at Kellie Castle

Even the public conveniences are picturesque - 

Pavilion Toilet at Kellie Castle Fife Scotland

A lovely sunny day for my visit meant the snowdrops made a great showing.

snowdrops

snowdrops and footbridge

of course I had to find some other birdies though I had the wrong camera lens with me

female blackbird at Kellie Castle

male chaffinch at Kellie Castle

Dunnock at Kellie Castle

Robin at Kellie Castle

Robin at Kellie Castle