Two miles east of Turriff, Delgatie Castle has been the seat of the Hay family for over 600 years. The current tower dates from the 16th century, with later additions, and rises five storeys above a deep wooded estate. The interior is fully furnished as a family home rather than a museum, with the original Hay family furniture, portraits, and weapons. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in 1562 after the battle of Corrichie, and her bedroom is preserved.
The headline feature is the set of painted ceilings on the upper floors — two unusually well-preserved 16th-century timber ceilings with mythological scenes, animals, and inscriptions in vivid earth pigments on the original boards. They are among the most important survivals of their kind in Scotland. The tearoom in the castle does a good lunch and Sunday roast; the gardens and the woodland walks are open year-round.