On one of our most magical days in Scotland, full of delightful surprises off the beaten path, we visited the ancestral home of Clan Maitland. Located in the region south of Edinburgh known as the Borders, Thirlestane Castle sits just outside the village of Lauder.
My maiden name is Lauderdale. The surname originates from this area, as the long line of Maitlands, earls and one duke, used the name as part of their title. The current Maitland Clan chieftain, Ian, who resides in London, is the 18th Earl of Lauderdale. Edward Maitland-Carew and his family are the current owners, and occupants, of Thirlestane Castle. During the summer months, the castle is open to visitors.
I am so glad that it is. This was my second visit to Thirlestane, and my niece’s second as well, while my sisters and mom saw it for the first time. Photographs were not allowed the first time I toured this 16th century castle. However, to my amazement, the signs now say no flash photography permitted. After asking permission, to be sure, my family and I started over in the first room open to the public, and happily snapped pics with our phones.
Welcome to Thirlestane Castle.
A parlor, with dark wood paneling.
An old wheelchair
Old photographs and awards from an early amateur photographer.
The recessed window alcoves show how thick the walls are. Castles are more than residences, they are fortresses, places of protection.
The billiard room.
The small library
The Duke of Lauderdale’s bedroom
The Duke of Lauderdale, a powerful man in Scotland and England.
A guest bedroom that was specifically reserved for Bonnie Prince Charles of England.
Formal sitting rooms, with ornate plaster ceilings.
The grand dining room.
The nurseries, with an impressive collection of vintage toys.
One of many staircases in the castle.
We so enjoyed our visit to Thirlestane Castle. There are 150 rooms in the castle, and although only a fraction of those are open to the public, it is easy to gain an appreciation for this gorgeous historic home and soak up the atmosphere. The energy within these thick walls is interesting to me, as I can imagine being accompanied by a host of past inhabitants as I wander room to room.
Are they as curious about me, as I am about them? Do they feel the connection of kinship that I feel?
The Borders is an apt name for this region in Scotland, as it lies between Edinburgh and Glasgow and England. A borderland is defined as an overlapping area between two things.
It is an apt description for me as well. I live my life in the borders, embracing reality and imagination, the natural world and the spirit world, and my Scottish/Irish/English heritage while also being American.
My borders are not sharply defined, the edges blurring together, shifting and enlarging, as I grow and flow through life and landscapes and regions. No wonder I feel like I belong in Scotland.
My heart has found its way home.
