Celtic Recipes

Braemar Castle - Caisteal Bràigh Mhàrr

Braemar Castle - Caisteal Bràigh Mhàrr

This is a castle built in 1628 by the earl of Marr and is seat of the Clan Farquharson. The castle is now leased to the local community and has witnessed an ongoing programme of restoration. It is open to the public and located close to the village of Braemar/Braigh Mharr off the A93 about fifty-eight miles west from Aberdeen.

Knock Castle Ballater

Knock Castle Ballater © Copyright Camer01 and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence

Knock Castle is a ruined tower house dating from about 1600 and located a mile west from the town of Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Bealadair, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). Knock Castle is now without a roof,  rectangular and four stories high. It about 27 feet by 22 feet and the falls are some 4 feet thick. A short distance to the west is a motte, with the possible foundations of an earlier 12th-century timber fortress, known as the Old Castle Knock.

Tolquhon Castle

Tolquhon Castle, front and entrance image by Karora and courtesy of wikimedia commons

Tolquhon Castle is located off the A920 northwest of the village of Pitmedden which is about twenty miles northwest of Aberdeen, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain, Alba). The castle was built in the sixteenth century and incorporates the remains of an earlier tower house and particularly noted for it's ornate gatehouse.

Loanhead of Daviot Stone Circle

Loanhead of Daviot Stone Circle the Double Recumbent Stones from the east 1902 by Frederick Coles FSA Scot (1854–1929)

This is a stone circle located close to the village of Daviot, Aberdenshire, Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic: Deimhidh, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). It is off minor roads from the B9001 and A920 north from Inverurie (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Uraidh). The circle is about twenty feet in Diameter with eight stones, two flankers and a recumbent. The circle was constructed in the early Bronze Age (c. 2500 until c. 1500 BC). There is a Bronze Age cemetery to the east. 

Balquane Castle

Ballaquain Castle © Copyright Greg Stringham and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence

Ballaquain Castle is located just under 3 miles west of the town of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Uraidh, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). It is a ruined tower house and was built in the 14th century and held by Leslie family from 1340. In 1526 the castle was sacked during a feud with the Forbes family and rebuilt in 1530. In 1562 Mary Queen of Scots stayed at the castle prior to the Battle of Corrichie which took place on 28 October 1562. In 1746 the property was burned by the forces of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland in 1746 and subsequently abandoned.

Dunnottar Castle - Dùn Fhoithear

Dunnotar Castle

Dunnottar Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Fhoithear) is about two miles south of the town of  Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Cala na Creige, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). This castle consists of eleven buildings built from the early thirteenth century. The keep is fourteenth century and other buildings added up until the seventeenth century. The ruined castle sits on the cliff top in a spectacular location south along the Coastal Path from Stonehaven Harbour. It can also be accessed via the A92 and a footpath from a nearby car park and is open daily throughout the year.

Dunrobin Castle

Dunrobin Castle

Dunrobin Castle is in Sutherland, in the Highlands of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Cataibh, a’ Ghàidhealtachd, Alba). This is a stately home and seat of the Clan Sutherland and the Countess of Sutherland. Although the original house dates back to the early fifteenth century it has been extended over subsequent centuries and the house today is mainly that of architect Sir Charles Barry in the mid-nineteenth century. The castle and grounds are open form the 1st April to the 15th October. The museum in the grounds has a collection of Pictish symbol stones and cross slabs. The castle is located off the A9 along the east coast about five miles south of Brora/Brura towards Golspie/Goillspidh in Sutherland.

Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle

The remains of this thirteenth century castle stand on a headland overlooking Loch Ness and is located off the A82 southwest from Inverness/Inbhir Nis and close to the village of Drumnadrochit/Druim na Droichaid. This much fought over castle was blown up in 1692 to prevent it becoming a Jacobite stronghold. It is open all of the year and has good visitor facilities and is run by Historic Scotland.

Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle is in the parish of Cawdor, Nairnshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Caladar, Siorrachd Inbhir Narann, Alba). This is located about eleven miles east from Inverness/Inbhir Nis and five miles southwest of Nairn/Inbhir Narann and dates from the fourteenth century. Over the centuries it has continued to expand from the original keep and is now noted for it's gardens and wood. The castle is the ancestral home to the Clan Cawdor and the Dowager Countess Cawdor continues to live there. The castle and grounds are open to the public from April to October.

Lochindorb Castle

Lochindorb Castle image via YouTube

Lochindorb (Scottish Gaelic: Loch nan Doirb) is a freshwater loch about six and a half miles north of the town of Grantown on Spey, Moray, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Baile nan Granndach, Moireibh, Alba). On a partly manmade island on the Loch are the ruins of Lochindorb Castle, a former stronghold of the Clan Comyn. The thirteenth century castle cover very nearly the entire area of the island. It is enclosed by thick quadrilateral curtain walls, reaching nearly twenty feet in height and six feet thick. At each corner there stood round towers. Within the walls remains of a hall block, chapel and other buildings can still be identified. 

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