Dunnottar Castle

On the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail, the beautiful cliff-top ruin of Dunnottar Castle stands 160 feet above the North Sea on a famous rock formation. A tour of this castle reveals its importance in Scotland’s history. See the evidence for yourself, including traces of the early Picts, Christian consecration, Viking invasions and visits from royals over time, such as Mary Queen of Scots. But this castle is most well-known for its links to different attacks as the nation’s politics changed over time. These include a successful assault by William Wallace during the Wars of Independence and an effective eight-month defence of the Scottish crown jewels, the Honours of Scotland, against Oliver Cromwell.