Inverallochy Castle

Inverallochy Castle is a ruined fortress in Aberdeenshire featuring a well-preserved tower in its northeast corner with walls extending around three sides of a central courtyard. The layout demonstrates how medieval fortified residences were organized to provide both defense and domestic space.

Built in 1504, the fortress was commissioned by Sir William Comyn, who held high rank as Lord Lyon King of Arms from 1512 to 1519. Its construction coincided with a period when such strongholds reinforced noble authority across the Scottish northeast.

This fortification is one of nine castles scattered across the rocky headland of Northeast Aberdeenshire, forming a chain that once defined territorial control in the region. The placement reflects how medieval lords used such structures to mark and defend their lands.

The ruins sit near the village of Inverallochy and are legally protected as a scheduled monument under British heritage law. Access can be limited at times, and visitors should be prepared for uneven ground and exposed stonework in its natural state.

The fortress once stood beside the Loch of Inverallochy, which was drained centuries later and transformed the surrounding landscape. This disappearance means today's visitor experiences the ruins in a fundamentally different setting than during its active medieval period.