🏰 Castles of Scotland
The Calendar Castle - Balfour Castle
If you take the short ferry ride from Kirkwall across to the
island of Shapinsay, the first thing that will catch your eye is the towering
silhouette of Balfour Castle. It isn’t a medieval fortress of war, but a
19th-century "Scottish Baronial" masterpiece that was built to
impress the world.
📍 Location
Where is it? It is situated on the southwest corner of the island of Shapinsay, one of the Orkney Islands.
Setting: It commands the approach to Elwick Bay, with the towers of Kirkwall Cathedral visible across the water on a clear day.
Coordinates: 59.030° N, 2.915° W.
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Van Access: To get here, you’ll need to take the Kirkwall to Shapinsay ferry. It’s a short 25-minute crossing. While the island is small, the roads are manageable for motorhomes. There is a car park near the ferry terminal, and the castle is a pleasant walk from there.
📜 A Timeline of History and Inhabitants
Balfour Castle is a story of "New Money" and
architectural genius.
1. The Original House (Cliffdale)
Before the castle, there was a simpler house on this site called Cliffdale, built in the late 1700s. It was a modest home for the local landowners before the Balfours decided to make a much bigger statement.
2. The Balfour Transformation (1847)
The Architect: The family hired David Bryce, the undisputed king of Scottish Baronial architecture.
The Vision: Colonel David Balfour transformed the old house into the grand castle we see today.
The "Calendar" Design: Local legend says the castle was built as a "Calendar House" - it features 7 turrets (days in a week), 12 external doors (months in a year), 52 rooms (weeks in a year), and originally 365 panes of glass.
3. The Zawadzki Era
In the 1960s, the castle was purchased by Captain Tadeusz Zawadzki, a Polish cavalry officer who had fallen in love with Orkney during the war. He and his family operated it as a world-class hotel for decades, preserving its Victorian character.
👑 Significance in History and Politics
Balfour Castle represents the "Golden Age" of the Scottish landed gentry and their influence on British politics.
The "Improvement" Movement: The Balfours were pioneers of the Agricultural Revolution in the north. They introduced new farming techniques and drainage systems that transformed Shapinsay from a barren landscape into one of the most productive islands in Orkney. This "improvement" was a major political theme in the 19th-century UK.
The Power of the Lairds: Politically, the castle was a symbol of the Balfour family's dominance. At one point, they owned nearly the entire island. Their influence extended to the House of Commons, where family members served as MPs, representing the interests of the Northern Isles in London.
Victorian Prestige: The architecture itself is a political statement. By building such a grand, "Old Scottish" style castle in 1847, the Balfours were linking their family to the ancient traditions of the Scottish nobility, cementing their status as the new elite of the Victorian era.
📸 Johnny’s "Pro" Tip:
The best view of the castle is actually from the ferry as
you approach the island. Have your camera ready on the top deck! Once you’re on
the island, the castle grounds are often open for walks, where you can see the
rare trees - some of the few that survive in the windswept Orkney climate.
For more of the Castles of Scotland series visit:
https://castlesinscotland.blogspot.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Castle
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1NTTk4vGyDXVvUWaZkYuTE6X1IA9p8A8&usp=sharing
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