6/22 isle of Mull=Torosay Castle

On the evening of June 22, we went to Torosay Castle.  We were given a private tour of this msnsion by the Fifth Laird of  Torosay, Christopher James.  He inherited the mansion from his grandparents who restored much of it, and it is a full time job running the farm lands and cattle surrounding the mansion.  

This is the main entrance into Torosay Castle.

Part of the exterior stone walls.  The family (James, wife and three children) live on the second and third floors during the tourist season and the first floor is open to the public.

This is the entrance immediately inside the main doors. 

The dining hall.

One of the sitting rooms.

The view of the outside landscaping from a first floor window.

There are several walled off areas for outside grounds, gardens and walkways behind the castle.

There are nineteen life size statues along this walkway on one side of the garden,

Looking back at Torosay from the outer grounds area.  The gardens were beautiful, with trees from many different countries.

Another area of grounds, walls and statues. Mr. James was very personable as he guided us thru the first floor of his home and the gardens.  When reloading on the bus there was a woman (pretty stout) standing by our door.  She was Russian, and argued with Mr. James that he should take her family through the castle as he did for us.  That was refused and he walked back into the private grounds by the castle and shut the steel gate behind him.  However, he did tell us that by law he couldn't stop anyone from walking, or camping, on his fields and pastures.