Dunnottar Castle
45 minute walk from Stonehaven station · Dundee, Aberdeen and North East
Dunnottar Castle is a ruined medieval fortress set upon a dramatic rocky headland on Scotland’s northeast coast. Surrounded by steep cliffs dropping 160 feet into the North Sea, the site features surviving structures primarily from the 15th and 16th centuries, including a tower house and a palace.
The site is historically significant as the place where the Scottish crown jewels, the Honours of Scotland, were hidden from Oliver Cromwell’s army in the 17th century. A strategic stronghold for centuries, it served as the seat of the Earls Marischal and has hosted royalty including Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI.
Visitors today can explore the 3.5-acre ruins, which are now a scheduled monument. You can cross the narrow strip of land to the gatehouse and discover historic features like the 16th-century quadrangle and the Whigs’ Vault, a cellar located beneath the ruins of the King’s Bedroom.
Visitor information
- Place type
- Castle
- Good for
- Castles, Military history, Scenic viewpoints
- Characteristics
- Clifftop, Medieval, Rocky, Ruin, Scheduled Monument
- Admission
- Paid admission
- Region
- Dundee, Aberdeen and North East
Stations within walking distance
- Stonehaven station — 45 min walk, 3.5 km
Other places near Stonehaven
- St James The Great Episcopal Church — 14 min walk from the station
- Church of the Immaculate Conception — 16 min walk from the station
- Stonehaven Leisure Centre — 19 min walk from the station
- Stonehaven Open Air Pool — 19 min walk from the station
- Dunnottar Castle, from Stonehaven — 21 min walk from the station
- Tolbooth Museum — 21 min walk from the station