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Castle
· Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
· 42 m
Dalriada Luxury Lodges
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Dunnottar CastlePhoto: Kelly McAlpine, Dalriada Luxury Lodges
Dunnottar Castle is a dramatic and historically significant ruined fortress perched atop a rocky headland on the north-east coast of Scotland, just south of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. Surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs that drop to the North Sea, and accessed via a narrow, winding path, its breathtaking location is one of the most iconic and photogenic in Scotland.
The site has been fortified since at least the Early Middle Ages, but the surviving ruins mostly date from the 15th and 16th centuries. Dunnottar played a pivotal role in Scottish history:
- William Wallace is believed to have captured the castle from English forces in 1297.
- The Scottish Crown Jewels (the Honours of Scotland) were famously hidden there in the 1650s to prevent Oliver Cromwell’s army from seizing them.
- In 1685, it was used as a prison for over 160 Covenanters, who were held in appalling conditions for refusing to renounce their faith.
Dunnottar is not a single building, but a complex of structures spread over the headland. Notable features include:
- The Keep (Tower House) – The central stronghold, built for defence and residence.
- The Chapel – A small 13th-century structure, possibly the oldest surviving part.
- Barracks, stables, and storehouses – Indicating the castle’s role as a working fortress.
- The Whigs’ Vault – The grim prison where the Covenanters were held.
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Recommendations nearby
A beautiful scenic walk through Stonehaven town, up the Bervie Braes taking in the Stonehaven War Memorial and Dunnottar Castle. Head back down ...
A beautiful scenic walk through Stonehaven town, up the Bervie Braes taking in the Stonehaven War Memorial and Dunnottar Castle. Head back down ...
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