Scalan

Scalan is a historic hidden Catholic seminary in Glenlivet, near Chapeltown (Chapeltown of Glenlivet) in Moray, inside the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. For more than eighty years, priests were trained here while Catholicism was suppressed in Scotland. The surviving 18th-century building is a Category A listed monument.

What was Scalan?

Bishop James Gordon founded the seminary in 1716, and it ran until 1799, educating roughly one hundred priests. The site was chosen on purpose: a remote Highland glen offered cover from the authorities, and the school had to stay discreet. That is why it is known as the Hidden Seminary. The building that stands today dates from 1767 and was designed to pass as an ordinary farmhouse rather than a religious college.

What can you see there?

You will see the stone walls of the former seminary in open hill country, along with mill buildings that belonged to the farm. Works approved in 2019 covered restoring the mill buildings, bringing a timber waterwheel back into working order and laying new access paths; check the current state of the site with its custodians before you go. Historic Environment Scotland lists the building as LB8453: it was listed at Category B in 1972 and raised to Category A in 1987. The site is often described as partly ruined, so plan on viewing it mostly from outside.

How do you get there, and can you go inside?

Park at the Carrachs car park and walk about half a mile along a farm track. The track is rough and the site is not fully wheelchair accessible; there is one parking space on site for visitors with reduced mobility. The interiors are not open all year. Access is on selected dates: in 2025 a Doors Open Day ran on 13 September from 1pm to 4pm with no booking needed, and heritage ranger walks have also been held in the area. For next season's dates, contact the Scalan Association ([email protected]) or watch the Visit Cairngorms events calendar.

What else is nearby?

In Chapeltown stands the Catholic church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour with its chapel house and burial ground, also Category A listed (LB8470). The village grew up after Scalan closed in 1799, when Abbe Paul MacPherson founded it nearby. Glenlivet is also famous for its whisky, and the area makes a good base for walking.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as Chapeltown in South Yorkshire?

No. The Chapeltown here is Chapeltown of Glenlivet in Moray, in the Scottish Highlands, not the town in England.

Can you go inside the building?

Not at any time. Interiors open on selected dates, such as open days. At other times you can view the site from outside.

How long should you allow for a visit?

Allow one to two hours, including the walk from the Carrachs car park and a look around the grounds.

Why is it called the Hidden Seminary?

Catholics were persecuted in 18th-century Scotland, so the school was set in a remote glen and built to look like a farm.