On the north east coast of Scotland lies a medieval castle that is surrounded by steep cliffs and is essentially a fortress. This fortress – Dunnottar castle – has played a vital role in the rich history of Scotland.
The 3 acre land area has around 11 buildings dating from the 13th – 17th Century. The castle’s first mention in the books of history is, as a battle site between the Vikings and King Donald II. Following many battles which involved various invading parties both English and the Scottish, the Earls of Marischal – one of the most prominent families in Scotland, owned and rehabilitated the castle making it one of the most luxurious living accommodations of that time.
But things were not settled, as once again Dunnottar Castle came under attack during the English Civil War. The Scottish Regalia – sceptre, crown and sword – were sought, but after having kept it safe within the castle for close to 8 months, it was smuggled out. One of the remaining buildings is what is known as the ‘Whigs vault’, where 167 men and women were imprisoned during the rebellion in 1685.
The final Earl of Marischal was found guilty of treason when he refused to accept the monarch as the spiritual head. The castle was then seized after much unfortunate destruction. It was only in 1925 that the Cowdray Family bought it over and commenced a refurbishment on a massive scale.
The repaired area is now open to the public and can be accessed through two pathways connected to the main building. The narrower and steeper path though tedious to access affords some of the most spectacular scenic visions. Visitors can wander through the tower house (keep), stables, store houses, barracks, chapel, lodgings and drawing room and soak in the amazing sense of history that still lingers in the air.
Visitors seeking hotels in Aberdeen, to take in sights such as the Dunnottar Castle, will be delighted with the facilities on offer at Copthorne Hotel Aberdeen. One of the best Aberdeen hotels in the area, it gives visitors true old Scottish charm as well as modern amenities.
