Dunnottar Castle
Dunnottar
Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven was originally the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in the land. This L-plan castle stands on a rocky outcrop and parts of the site dates back to the 13th Century, but records also suggest a much earlier settlement as far back as 681.
Visited by William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose and the future King Charles II, Dunnottar is most famous for the small garrison which held out against the might of Cromwell's army for a total of eight months in 1650. This action saved the Scottish Crown Jewels, known as the ‘Honours of Scotland’, from theft, loss and possible destruction.
The extensive ruins of the medieval Dunnottar Castle still stand to this day, having been sympathetically repaired and restored in the 1920's. Dunnottar Castle and grounds are open to the public.
Photograph by Michael Stephens
