Dunnotar Castle, Scotland
The scenery at Dunnottar Castle is spectacular- the views out to the sea, the cliff edge where the land, quite literally, ends. The castle, its rich history - all feels surreal and magnificent to see for yourself!
It was a sunny warm day in August when we decided to make a day trip to Dunnottar Castle. What I love about August (and summer in general, for that matter) is that there is plenty of daylight till the evening, which makes for a very long day, and we can take it slowly in the morning.
Dunnottar Castle (or rather a ruin of a castle) is open to the public. Last entry, I believe, is half an hour before closing. It’s 130 miles trip one-way from where we live. We had an electric car with 120 miles range on one charge, so we needed to stop at some point on a way.
We’ve been driving that car all across the country, and making coffee stops every 100 miles suits my liking for a slow travel. The need to stop along the way forces us to look at places we likely otherwise would’ve driven past, and there are many gems to explore.
We arrived an hour before closing time, a large group of tourists just leaving the castle while we were buying the tickets; timing was perfect - the ruins were all ours.
Sunny days are such a treat when outdoor sightseeing in Scotland. Located at the east coast in Aberdeenshire, the scenery at Dunnottar Castle is spectacular- the views out to the sea, the cliff edge where the land, quite literally, ends. The castle, its rich history - all feels surreal and magnificent to see for yourself!
Fun facts about Dunnottar Castle:
The name ‘dun’ is Pictish for ‘fort’ - to be the oldest Pictish fort ever discovered (it is believed that the Picts established it between 5000BC and 700AD.)
Surrounded on three sides by the North Sea
The rock on which the Castle stands is as remarkable at close quarters as it is from a distance. The conglomerate is known as a 'pudding stone' and consists large rocks and pebbles held in an immensely strong cementing matter
Mary Queen of Scots visits the Castle for the first time. Returning two years later and spending two nights there in September 1564
In 1593 George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal brought a pet lion to the castle and was housed in what is known as The Lion’s Den.
The surviving buildings are largely of the 15th and 16th centuries, but the site is believed to have been fortified in the Early Middle Ages.
