The Castle & Gardens of Mey

The full ticket makes sense when adults or older children want the castle rooms as well as the outdoor areas. If your children are mainly there for the animals and garden, compare the grounds-and-gardens option at the gift shop before paying.

Individual tickets are bought on arrival rather than reserved online. That keeps the day flexible, but it also means checking current opening information before a long drive is particularly important.

The Animal Centre makes Mey easier to explain to younger children than a castle visit focused mainly on royal history. Sheep, bantams, ducks, geese and rabbits give them something obvious to notice between the castle and garden.

Children can try milking Daisy, the wooden cow, and feed bought at the centre can be given to the chickens and sheep. Animal availability can change, so avoid promising one particular sight before arrival.

The castle route covers a focused set of rooms connected with the Queen Mother's life at Mey. It suits children who can manage a slower historic-house visit, while the walled garden and animals give them a break from the castle rooms afterwards.

This is partly indoors and partly outdoors, so it is not the safest choice for a very wet day. Wind and rain can make the garden and grounds less enjoyable, even though the castle rooms, Animal Centre and tearoom provide some cover.

The Visitor Centre beside the car park has accessible routes to the tearoom, shop and toilets. The historic castle is the important exception: wheelchair access is not currently possible inside.

The standard walk from parking to the castle is about 200 metres. Ask at the ticket office about closer parking when walking distance is difficult, and contact the venue before travelling if a particular access route is important for your family.

The tearoom is useful for a break for snacks, cake or a drink, with gluten-free and vegetarian options on request. It does not take reservations, and the Visitor Centre is cashless.

Dogs can join the grounds on leads, but they cannot enter the castle, Walled Garden, Animal Centre or Visitor Centre unless they are guide dogs. There is little shade in the main car park, so this is not an easy attraction to divide between dog care and the family visit.

Check the date before setting off. Mey opens Wednesday to Sunday during its May-to-September season, but the entire visitor attraction closes from 24 July to 11 August 2026 inclusive.

It sits between Thurso and John O'Groats, making it useful in a wider north-Caithness day. Treat those places as part of a wider route, not quick add-ons, and leave enough flexibility for the 15-20 minute walk from the roadside bus stop if you are not driving.