Cowie Castle

Cowie Castle comprises the remaining stone walls of a medieval fortification positioned on a coastal headland north of Stonehaven. The structure occupies a strategic spot where it once monitored shipping and land routes along the northeast Scottish shore.

Built in the medieval period, the castle served as a coastal defense post controlling movements and trade between Stonehaven and Aberdeen. Its location along a major overland route made it essential for monitoring travel and commerce in the region.

The site represents medieval Scottish fortification practices adapted to coastal defense needs. Walking through this place gives a sense of how such structures once controlled trade and movement along the northeast coast.

The ruins sit along a coastal walking route accessible from Stonehaven town, with parking available near Cowie Bridge. Wear sturdy shoes as the terrain can be uneven and slippery, especially in wet conditions.

Archaeological work at this location uncovered fossils of Pneumodesmus newmani, among the earliest creatures known to breathe air on land. This finding connects the castle site to deep time and the earliest evolution of terrestrial life.