7 hours ago
The Castle of Maze! King unveils grand design for the Queen Mother's former home
It was a home beloved of his grandmother who would spend hours walking around her Highland estate.
And now King Charles is to add to the beauty of the Castle of Mey, in Caithness, as he bids to attract tourists with a new maze.
A garden maze is being created in the grounds of the castles which is owned by the King's Foundation.
The royal residence became a favourite haunt of the late Queen Mother as she visited friends in the Highlands after the death of her husband, King George VI, in 1952.
The monarch developed a love of mazes as a child. The one at Castle of Mey, which will have an ornamental tower in the middle, is aimed at attracting more visitors, particularly children and teenagers, to the site.
A planning application for the development has been submitted to Highland Council and the local authority is due to make a decision by August.
A design statement accompanying the application reads: 'The project proposes a new maze garden and folly located within a clearing in the woodland to the south east of the castle.
'The folly and maze will form part of the visitor attraction. The construction project itself will provide training in traditional skills with the opportunity for public demonstration and interaction.
'The hedges to the maze would be made from fuchsia like some of the hedges within the walled garden. The hedges would be grown to 1.2m height. This would be above the eye level of a child but would allow an adult to see over the hedges.
'The role of the new building is to be the central focal point of a new maze within the woodland. It is ornamental and provides seating for people at the completion of their visit to the maze.
'It should appeal to all visitors to the maze including children and teenagers and it should be accessible for people with various types of impairments, such as mobility, sight, hearing and autism.'
As a child, King Charles spent hours hiding and playing in a maze on the Royal Family's Sandringham estate.
In recent years he has had new mazes built at Sandringham and his other Scottish residences at Balmoral and Dumfries House.
Speaking at the opening of the Dumfries House maze, he said: 'I'm afraid to say I'm rather indulging in my childhood fantasy of mazes. There's nothing more enjoyable than getting lost in a maze.'
The Queen Mother first saw the 16th century Castle of Mey in 1952, when she was staying nearby with Commander Clare and Lady Doris Vyner.
She was still mourning her husband, King George VI, but was immediately charmed by the building, then known as Barrogill Castle, despite half its roof having been torn off in storms.
She purchased the castle, along with its walled garden and 24 acres of land.. The castle was opened to the public in 2002.
Along with other local tourist businesses, it has benefitted from the success of the North Coast 500 driving route, around the north coast of Scotland.
