With medieval castles adorning the rocky cliffs and rolling highlands, Scotland is a land of the fairies. With over 2000 castles, they are not a novelty in the country, but each one of them has amazing history. Dunnottar castle on the northern coast of Scotland perhaps enjoys one of the most picturesque locations. Set on a steep cliff overlooking the North Sea, Dunnottar is like a cherry on top of this already stunning location. You wouldn’t be the first one to imagine gallowglasses galloping across this landscape with abandon.

A fascinating history

The site itself is believed to have been first fortified in the early Middle Ages, but the surviving buildings date back to the 15th century. The most prominent structure when approaching from the main entrance is the Tower House. Other remains include a palace, a gatehouse and a chapel. Today, the castle is considered a Scheduled Monument i.e. it is a place of archaeological and historical significance and cannot be altered. Entry is open to all parts of the castle. I was surprised to see only a handful of visitors, mostly locals, on what was a delightful summer day in July. There are lots of legends and stories associated with the castle. One of the most fascinating facts was that the Honors of Scotland were kept at this castle in the 17th century, before they were stolen.

Spend a day at this beautiful castle

With stunning beaches on both sides of the castle, wildflowers adorning the adjacent slopes, and a stunning coastline, it is hard to take your eyes off the castle. Dunnottar’s environs offer some great hiking opportunities and unique perspectives of the castle. You could easily spend a full day exploring the castle and the various walkways, and enjoying a picnic by the beaches. If you are a photographer, arrive early in the morning or at sunset and you will be rewarded with some dramatic scenery evocative of Middle Ages. Dunnottar is easily reachable from Dundee or Edinburgh, if that is one of your bases.

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About Praveen Maloo

Praveen is currently based out of Seattle, United States. He loves coffee, conversations, micro-brews, and intimate jazz music scenes. When its not raining in Seattle, he can be seen enjoying the beautiful outdoors of the Pacific North-West.

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