A large pleasance, or garden, was created in 1604, and was surrounded by an ornamental wall, to which a summerhouse and a bathhouse were added. The fine carved decoration of the garden walls was unique. The Lindsay Earls of Crawford built the castle, Mary,
Queen of Scots, stayed here in 1715, and Cromwell garrisoned it in 1651.

The Lindsays had to sell the property in 1715, because of huge debts, and the Maule, Earl of Panmure bought it.

The Maules were subsequentley forfeited for their part in the 1745 Jacobite Rising, and the castle was garrisoned by Hanoverian troops, who did much damage.












However, the Maules recovered Edzell in 1764, but the castle was abandoned soon afterwards. It later passed to the Earl of Dalhousie, and was put in the care of the state in the 1930's.

One story associated with the castle is that a gypsy woman cursed one of the Lindsay Lairds, after he had hanged her sons for poaching.

The tale goes that his pregnant wife died that day, while he himself was devoured by wolves - as foretold.