Cromarty Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Cromarty, Scotland
Cromarty Castle is a ruined stronghold in Scotland that featured an L-shaped tower house design with a spacious great hall and a spiral staircase running through the structure. The buildings combined stone and timber construction typical of medieval Scottish fortifications.
The castle began around 1470 when King James III granted Sir William Urquhart permission to build a tower on an existing motte. The fortress stood for several centuries before its materials were repurposed for other buildings in the area.
The castle site represents the power shifts between English and Scottish forces, with Sir William de Monte Alto controlling it during independence conflicts.
The site sits at the entrance to the harbor with views toward the opposite shore. Visitors should expect uneven ground and limited structures since only ruins remain to explore.
The castle location provided strategic control over the entrance to Cromarty Firth, facing Dunskeath Castle on the opposite coast.
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