With its portraits, oak ceilings, heraldic shields, Elizabethan fireplace
and more, Crathes is uniquely preserved. The castle is particularly famous for its
Jacobean painted ceilings, only uncovered in 1877. These can be seen in the Chamber of the
Muses, the Chamber of Nine Worthies and the Green Lady's Room - which is said to be
haunted. One of the most historic objects is the Horn of Leys, a jewelled ivory horn on
display in the hall. King Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Leys to the Burnett family
in 1323. The ancient Horn of Leys, which can be seen today in the Great Hall, was
presented by Bruce to the family as a symbol of his gift. The castle, built in the second
half of the 16th century, is a superb example of a tower house of the period. Some of the
rooms retain their original painted ceilings and collections of family portraits and
furniture. The castle contains a
significant collection of portraits, and intriguing original Jacobean
painted ceilings survive in several rooms: the Chamber of the Muses,
the Chamber of Nine Worthies and the Green Lady's Room. The
last of these is said to be haunted by a green lady. A green smoke or mist
is said to have been seen by visitors. The ancient jewelled ivory Horn of
Leys residing in the great hall above the fireplace, was gifted to the
Burnetts by the king along with the castle grounds in 1323.A visit to this property is enhanced by the 1.5 ha (3,75 a) of walled garden,
which incorporates herbaceous borders and many unusual plants. The garden provides a
wonderful display at all times of the year. The great yew hedges, fascinating examples of
the art of topiary, date from as early as 1702. The castle grounds are perfect for nature
study and there are six exciting trails for visitors to enjoy. In the Visitor Centre are
two permanent exhibitions.
