Highland Halloween

                    Slains Castle - circa 1900

We're back from Scotland, but in honor of Halloween this week's favorite thing is the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula - Slains Castle.

Slains Castle is situated on the cliffs overlooking Cruden Bay.  The castle began as a tower house in 1597 and had many additions and renovations throughout the centuries.  The last reconstruction in the 1830's involved adding granite facing to the castle.  Owned by the Earls of Errol for over 300 years, the property changed hands several times in the early 1900's.  In 1925 the roof was removed so that the owner wouldn't have to pay taxes, and the castle fell into ruin.

Today the walls stand in various stages of decay, moss and grass growing throughout.  Abbie and I hiked in from surrounding fields.  There are no signs to mark the way, just a small, unmarked car park off the road.  The day was cold and rainy, with a strong wind blowing off the North Sea.  As we approached the castle we could hear the surf crashing on the cliffs below.

           Abbie - dressed in her Highland Plaids!

As we entered the castle grounds we could see where the floors had rotted away, leaving staircases that led to nowhere.  And windows that looked out to the sea.

It was easy to see how Bram Stoker's imagination might have been sparked by this remote location.  Apparently he had been staying at a local hotel in Cruden Bay when he saw Slains Castle and called it "the castle of the dead".

The highest part of the castle was also the oldest, the original tower house.  The winding stone stairs still climbed up five stories, even though many of the floors no longer existed. Within the high walls the wind from the ocean died away and the clouds momentarily cleared.  Emboldened by the sunshine, and egged on by my daughter, I started to climb the tower.

 Looking down at the sea from one of the tower windows

                                         Missing floor!

I climbed as high as I dared, up five stories, but not quite to the top step - which, of course, was open to the wind.  We stood in amazement as a murder of crows flew over our heads, calling to one another, caught in the current.  Abbie and I carefully made our way down the steps and off to explore some more.

                      Abbie and the North Sea

                    Back view of the castle

For more information about Slain's Castle click here:  Undiscovered Scotland