I was away on holiday last week – hence the lack of posting. I saw a LOT of puffins but sadly they were all on mugs, postcards, cushions and so on. I managed to refrain from buying any of them, but I did treat myself to some new (non-puffin) books.

Letters to Enid 33

and

Enid Blyton’s Holiday Stories then and now, part 11

The ruins of Duffus Castle would be the perfect place for a Famous Five adventure – had they ever travelled as far as Scotland!

I didn’t find any secret passages but that’s not to say they weren’t there. And with RAF Lossiemouth easily visible from the top I bet the Five could have sniffed out some sort of mystery. It’s Five Have a Wonderful Time meets Five Go to Billycock Hill!

The collapsed portion at the front once contained a latrine and the great hall’s large fireplace. It slid down as the mound it was built on was man-made and not up to the weight of the stone castle which replaced the original wooden structure.

The castle is free to wander around and open 24/7 so there’s no grumpy staff at the entrance.