Dunnotter Castle, nr Stonehaven
By Richard Easson
| Scotland Dunnotter Castle, nr Stonehaven By Richard Easson
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took by Richard Easson 2003 |
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Built on a promontory on cliffs
high above the sea, Dunnottar Castle
is a spectacular ruined courtyard castle, parts of which date from
the 12th century. The castle consists of a 15th-century L-plan keep,
16th- and17th-century ranges around a large courtyard, as well as
a chapel, stableblock, forge, barracks, and priest's house.Dunnottar
was captured by William Wallace from the English in 1296,
one story telling that he burnt 4000 Englishmen here. Edward III
of England took the castle in the 1330s and strengthened it, but
it was quickly recaptured by the Scots.The Keith Earls Marischal acquired
the property in 1382, and by the beginning of the 16th century Dunnottar
was one of the strongest fortresses in Scotland. Mary, Queen
of Scots, stayed here in 1562. The Marquis of Montrose unsuccessfully
besieged it in 1645. In 1651 the Scottish crown jewels were brought
here for safety, and Cromwell had the castle besieged in 1652. Before
the garrison surrendered, after an eight month siege, the
regalia and state papers were smuggled out to be hidden in nearby
Kinneff Church until recovered at the Restoration. In 1685 Covenanters,
numbering some 167 women and men, were packed into one of the cellars
during a hot summer and nine died while 25 escaped. The others,
when freed, were found to have been tortured. The Earl Marischal
supported the Jacobites in the Rising of 1715, and was forfeited.
The castle was partly dismantled in 1716, and again in 1718, and
be came ruinous. External shots of the castle were used in the film
Hamlet with Mel Gibson. Getting to the castle involves a walk, steep
climb, and yes you guessed right an even steeper one back,
But WoW - what an experience.. 
All pictures took by Richard Easson 2003
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