Dunnottar Castle

The history of Dunnottar Castle stretches back to ancient times, with evidence suggesting the rock was inhabited during the Pictish era. Legends claim that St. Ninian founded a chapel here in the 5th century. The Annals of Ulster report sieges in the 7th century, and in 900, King Donald II unsuccessfully defended the site against Vikings. In the 13th century, a chapel was added, and in 1297, William Wallace is said to have recaptured the castle from the English. In 1336, the English, under Edward II, attempted to rebuild the complex but were driven out by Andrew Murray. From 1382, Dunnottar belonged to the Keith family, who completed the keep. In the 16th century, the Keiths transformed the castle into a comfortable residential stronghold, visited by Mary, Queen of Scots, and King James I. During the 17th-century Civil Wars, Dunnottar played a crucial role when the Scottish Crown Jewels were hidden here from Oliver Cromwell's troops. Later, in 1685, Covenanters were imprisoned here in the infamous “Whigs' Vault.” Following the Jacobite Rising of 1715, the castle was disbanded in 1718 and fell into disrepair until the Pearson family initiated extensive preservation efforts in the 20th century.

The ruins of Dunnottar Castle are located in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in the United Kingdom. It stands on a rocky headland at an elevation of approximately 29 meters (approx. 95 feet) above sea level.

Visitors can explore the ruins of Dunnottar Castle today. The surviving buildings, including a 14th-century keep and parts of the 16th-century castle, offer an impressive glimpse into the site's former significance.

• Fetteresso Castle (Castle), approx. 4.2 km away
• Ecclesgreig Castle (Mansion and Estate House), approx. 23.0 km away
• Torry Battery (Military Structures), approx. 23.3 km away
• Castle Fraser (Castle), approx. 32.8 km away