A Downton Abbey Castle… Inverarary Castle
Since I’ve recently been thinking about all things Downton Abbey, I’m sharing with you about my trip to Inverarary Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
If you haven’t seen my post about Downton Abbey fashion… make sure to go here
This castle was featured in the Christmas Special from Season 3.
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| The fellas on the show at the fictional “Duneagle” castle. |
Here are some of my pictures from June 2012. I had no idea the show had just filmed there a few weeks prior. Needless to say, I was very surprised to see it on TV!
Inverarary Castle is located in Scotland near the town of Inverarary in the county of Argyll. It sits on Loch Fyne, the longest sea loch of Scotland.
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| Inverarary Castle location is the red dot. |
What’s that I see down there?
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| driving up to the castle, looking across Loch Fyne |
The town of Inverarary is small and quaint. There is a woolen mill, a church, a jail, and a little hotel. We ate lunch in the hotel.
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| image from here |
Pictures of Inveraray
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| clockwise upper left, the town next door, a sign to the castle, the Duke’s black sheep, a view of the Castle’s backyard, and a soldier statue that a seagull was sitting on. |
Approaching the castle… It started construction in 1746. The castle was completed 43 years later. In 1877 there as a fire. It resulted in a third floor addition and conical roofs on the corner towers.
The Duke of Argyll, who is the seat of the Clan Campbell, and his family currently reside here today. The 9th Duke of Argyll married a daughter of Queen Victoria, HRH Princess Louise.
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| I waited a long time to get this shot with no one in it! |
The photos below are from the official Inverarary Castle website. There were no photos allowed inside.
One of the things I liked about this castle was how they displayed their weapons here in the Armoury Hall. All 4 sides of the wall are covered in arms.
The dining room. If you look closely you’ll notice a ship made of gold. The chandelier is Waterford. The paintings were done by the same painter who painted for the Prince of Wales.
A bedroom with the family’s tartan I believe. Love this bed! However, this bed apparently is ghostly. A young Irish harpist was murdered in the 1600s. The bed was moved from that castle to this one. The boy’s ghost was so attached to his pretty bed that he travelled with it. When a member of the family is about to die, it is said harp music is heard coming from the room.
The beautiful drawing room! It is decorated with Parisian tapestries from the 1780s.
The estate sits on 60,000 acres. As you can imagine, just like Downton Abbey, running one of these estates is costly. The Duke of Argyll has had to market his estate. We actually met the Duke of Argyll in the basement bookstore where he was signing books. You can even rent the castle out for weddings!
A helicopter view of the property. It is a very pretty place to visit in Scotland!
For more information, visit here.
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| That’s all, folks! |
I’ve linked up with The Scoop! Visit Confessions of a Plate Addict blog, Tablescape Thursday at ‘Between Naps on the Porch’,Wow us Wednesdays!at Savvy Southern Style, Open House Party at no minimalist here, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage,Seasonal Sundays & Oh the places I have been at The Tablescaper, and life of the party at the grant life, and the style sisters, and Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
Thank you for sharing this lovely images and for so much information about my fav show…Downton Abbey, I just love it!
FABBY
Fabulous tour! Thanks for sharing.♥♫
I love the show. Thanks for the tour! So beautiful inside and out…Christine
I've only watched Downton Abbey once, but this castle really appeals to me even though I'm not very familiar with the TV show. It's so pretty, and I like that bed even though it's haunted. If I wasn't already married, I'd want to rent this castle out for my wedding.
What fun to have visited here and then watch the series. What a place to live!
What a wonderful trip to a gorgeous castle! I bet you were surprised to see it on the show! I'd love to visit it one day.
Great photos!
Wow! I would love to go. I have vicariously watched the series and well remember the visit there. Your photos and the ones you've posted are much grander.
Wonderful to have you at "Oh, the PLACES I've been!"
– The Tablescaper
I'm probably one of the very few females who hasn't seen Downton Abbey but I love how this castle looks. All that green landscape is so appealing. Absolutely beautiful and the interior looks just as lovely.
I am glad everyone has enjoyed my trip report! I was shocked to see this little known castle on tv!
oh I love Downton Abbey! I hope the next season is coming to Australia soon! Thanks for taking us behind the scenes and showing us where it is located.
Happy travels and have a wonderful weekend. I am joining you through "oh the places I've been"
I am so sad that this is the last season of Downton. I did not watch it at first and had to catch up via DVD. Once I did I was hooked and now it is ending!
I initially missed the first season nd bought it on dvd.. I started watching it live halfway through the second season.