Visitors to The Castle and Gardens of Mey in Scotland will be able to see into the former bedrooms of both the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret from today.

The 16th century castle – which was the Scottish holiday retreat of the late Queen Mother from 1952 until she died in 2002 – is now managed by The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, which Her Majesty set up in 1996.

The Castle opened to the public in 2002, but this year a new floor is being opened, allowing visitors to see into four of the bedrooms and a bathroom.

Chair of the Trust, Ashe Windham, said: “The inclusion of these rooms after sensitive restoration adds a new dimension to the tour, as we are opening up an entire extra floor to the public. It will give our visitors a better idea of how life was at the castle when Her Majesty was in residence.”

James Murray, administrator for the Trust, said the move was the result of people regularly asking to be able to see the bedrooms. Visitors will only be able to look into the rooms, rather than enter them, both for safety reasons and out of deference to the Queen Mother’s memory, said Murray.

Rooms previously on display will be opened again for the 2004 season, including the hall, drawing room, equerry’s room, library, dining room, butler’s pantry, kitchen, courtyard and grounds.

In 2003, the Castle received almost 25,000 visitors and Murray said the trust hoped opening up the new rooms would lift visitor numbers to 30,000 for 2004.

The Castle of Mey is situated on the north coast of Caithness, about six miles west of John O’Groats and the Queen Mother used to spend the last three weeks of August and 10 days in October there every year.

The property is open to the public from 18 May to 29 July and 11 August to 30 September inclusive. Details: www.castleofmey.org.uk