Clifftop castle ruin · near Stonehaven
Dunnottar Castle
A ruined fortress on a sheer-sided rock above the North Sea, and the most dramatic short day trip from Aberdeen.
- Location
- On a headland roughly two miles south of Stonehaven, about fifteen miles south of Aberdeen
- Area
- Kincardineshire coast, south of Stonehaven
- Event style
- Self-guided visits to a ruined fortress, coastal walking and photography
- Where to base yourself
- Aberdeen city centre (train to Stonehaven) or Stonehaven itself
What kind of place is it?
Dunnottar Castle is a ruined clifftop fortress on a flat-topped headland, joined to the mainland only by a narrow neck of land. Visitors walk down a steep path and up a long flight of steps to reach the gatehouse, then explore the roofless buildings spread across the top of the rock: a tower house, chapel, ranges of lodgings and a quadrangle. The setting — sea on three sides, seabirds wheeling below — is as much the attraction as the ruins themselves.
A short history
The rock has been fortified since early times, and most of what stands today dates from the fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries, when it was the seat of the Keith family, the Earls Marischal. Its best-known episode came in the early 1650s, when the Honours of Scotland — the crown, sceptre and sword of state — were held at Dunnottar during a siege by Cromwell's forces and were smuggled out before the castle surrendered. The castle later fell into ruin and is now privately owned and open to visitors.
Visitor information
- Getting there: trains run from Aberdeen to Stonehaven in a short journey; from the town a signed clifftop path leads to the castle, passing the Stonehaven war memorial. There is also a car park near the castle.
- Steps and weather: there are many steps down and back up, and the headland is exposed. The castle can close in high winds or poor weather — check its own website on the day.
- Time to allow: an hour or two at the castle, plus the walk from Stonehaven if you go on foot.
- Bring: sturdy shoes and a warm, windproof layer even in summer.
How it fits your trip
Dunnottar is the easiest headline day trip from Aberdeen without a car. Combine the castle with Stonehaven's harbour and seafront for a full day, as described in our field note on Stonehaven and Dunnottar.