Pitsligo Castle, Medieval castle ruin near Rosehearty, Scotland.
Pitsligo Castle is a stone ruin in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, built around a central keep with three vaulted levels inside thick walls. A stair tower to the northeast and a round defensive tower add to the main structure, with a walled garden to the north and an enclosure to the west.
The keep was built in 1424 and extended during the 1570s by the Forbes family, who shaped much of what stands today. The structure was later badly damaged by military action and has remained a ruin ever since.
Stone plaques on the outer walls carry the heraldry of the families who once lived here. These carved details are still visible today and give the ruins a personal, human quality.
The site is reached on foot, and parking nearby is limited, so plan accordingly. The ground is uneven throughout, so sturdy shoes are a good idea, especially inside the ruins.
Pitsligo Castle is one of nine castles clustered along a rocky headland in northeast Scotland, which is rare even by Scottish standards. Seeing several of these ruins in a single day is entirely possible, as they sit close together along the coast.
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