Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, Medieval castle ruins in Wick, Scotland
Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is a ruined fortress sitting on a rocky peninsula that juts into Sinclair Bay, surrounded by the North Sea. Stone walls still stand to heights of around 50 feet (15 meters), revealing the original layout with an inner and outer section connected by defensive works.
William Sinclair, the second Earl of Caithness, began building the fortress in 1476 and worked on it for roughly two decades. The stronghold served as the family's important base until it was eventually abandoned and fell into the ruin we see today.
The castle served as a seat of power for the Sinclair family and demonstrates how local nobility shaped life along Scotland's far north coast. Walking through the ruins, you can see how fortifications like this defined the region's character and protected the people living there.
Access to the ruins is free, and parking is available near the coastal path entrance. The exposed rocky setting can be windy and the ground uneven, so proper footwear and weatherproof clothing are recommended.
The fortress was originally two separate structures that were later connected into a single defensive system. This merging of two distinct buildings into one integrated stronghold is a rare architectural solution still visible in the surviving foundations.
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