College of Scalan ***

Region: Aberdeen(shire) & Moray

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Description:

In 1716 Catholic Bishops established a secret college for priests at Scalan. They chose this remote spot to avoid persecution by Hanoverian soldiers. It was this little seminary that ensured the survival of Catholicism in Scotland and about one hundred priests were trained at Scalan up until 1799 despite numerous attacks.

The college can be found at the foot of the Ladder Hills (Braes of Glenlivet) in the Cairngorms National Park. Visitors today will note that the college is largely invisible until you are very close.

The building is open all year for people to savour how ‘with courage and dogged perseverance’ the Catholic faith survived.