Hallforest Castle, 14th-century tower castle in Kintore, Scotland
Hallforest Castle is a 14th-century rectangular tower in Kintore, Aberdeenshire. The structure is built from granite stones and retains three elevations at their original height, showing the core form of this tower house.
Robert the Bruce granted the castle to Robert Keith, Marischal of Scotland, in 1309, establishing the Keith family's long hold on the property. The tower remained in their possession for centuries as their power and influence grew.
The castle reflects early Scottish tower house design with a kitchen tucked in the entresol and a grand hall above it. This stacking of spaces shows how residents combined daily work and formal gatherings within a single structure.
The castle sits about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from Kintore town and is visible from nearby roads. The site is open to walk around, though the ground is uneven and weather can shift quickly in this part of Scotland.
Traces of original lime render still cling to parts of the walls, revealing that the entire tower was once covered in a protective coating. This detail hints at how different the structure looked when freshly finished compared to its weathered state today.
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