Glamis Castle revives historic traditions to expand sustainability initiatives

The team at Glamis Castle are delighted to announce a series of updates that celebrate our rich heritage and a deep rooted commitment to sustainability.

As part of these works, the Walled Garden has been renamed the Kitchen Garden, reflecting its historical role in providing fresh produce for the castle’s kitchen. The estate has also renamed its Nature Trail to the East Woodland, which is now home to the newly located Macbeth Loop, offering visitors a refreshed way to explore the legendary landscapes of Glamis.

Dating back to 1372, Glamis Castle has always embraced self-sufficiency. The Kitchen Garden traditionally grew fresh fruit and vegetables to supply to large households with the high walls surrounding the gardens providing protection to the plants from predators and the elements. Today, this tradition continues with the Gardens team growing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, including asparagus, rhubarb, apples, carrots, cabbage, raspberries, strawberries and plums which which are harvested seasonally and follow a farm to plate ethos by being incorporated into some of the dishes on the menu of the Castle Kitchen Restaurant.

Beyond the garden, the Strathmore Estate’s farming and shooting operations supply estate-reared venison to the restaurant, with Angus beef set to feature on the menu from 2025, reinforcing a commitment to locally sourced, sustainable food. Additionally, wood salvaged from winter storms is processed at the estate sawmill and repurposed to heat the castle, ensuring that the estate’s natural resources continue to be used in an environmentally responsible way.

Sustainability and promotion of locally grown produce is highlighted in the castle’s 2025 exhibition, Sustaining Glamis Castle. The exhibition focuses on bringing together all the elements involved in preserving this historic landmark and its estate, emphasising not only survival but also the enhancement of quality of life, environmental stewardship, and conservation efforts.

“Renaming our Walled Garden to the Kitchen Garden allows us to celebrate the historical importance of this area of our gardens,” said Steven Cumming, General Manager at Glamis Castle. “We are excited to amplify this aspect of our heritage with our visitors and provide them with a deeper understanding of how these gardens were utilised in time gone by and have evolved into the modern day.”

In addition to the exhibition, Glamis Castle Archivist, Ingrid Thomson has collated a first edition cookbook called ‘Glamis Castle Recipes and Remedies.’ This book highlights a unique collection of 17^th century culinary and medicinal recipes and traditional cooking practices that have been used throughout the rich history of Glamis Castle.

Glamis Castle will re-open on 19^th March, 2025 and will be open daily from 10am – 5pm until 31^st October, 2025. Tickets are available for guided castle tours, garden access or a series of seasonal events held within the castle and grounds.