Aberdeenshire & Moray

Towns & Villages

ABERCHIRDER

Aberchirder Main Street - Photo: Greg Stringham CCL

This small town - colloquially known as Foggieloan, or ‘mossy track’ - lies close to the Moray Firth coastal route and started life as an estate village founded by Alexander Gordon in 1746. Nearby is the Bridge of Marnoch as well as prehistoric standing stones dating to 1800 BC. Of great interest is 16th-century Crombie Castle – stronghold of the ancient Innes Clan - and its neighbour, Kinnairdy Castle. The latter has a 14th century stone tower and 16th century palace.
 

ABERDEEN

At first glance this is a thoroughly grey city. Look beneath the surface, though, and it is uniquely fascinating. Known as the ‘Granite City’ thanks to the grey stone used in many buildings, it has terraced gardens, flower-decked parks – it’s famous for its displays of roses – and a skyline dotted with sky-touching spires, the most notable of which is the 195ft tower of St Nicholas Church. The city is famous for golf and is a popular seaside resort with two miles of golden beaches.

Typical granite houses in Belvidere St - Photo: Richard Slessor CCL

Aberdeen boat club on the Dee Estuary - Photo: Richard Slessor CCL

Lying at the mouth of the salmon rivers Don and Dee, it has an ‘old’ part containing fine architecture and the twin-spired 15th century cathedral of St Machar. Founded by the saint in 580AD, Aberdeen was called Devana by the Romans and was granted a royal charter in 1179 by King William the Lion. Within 200 years it was a prosperous port dealing in cargoes such as fish, wool and timber.

Aberdeen Harbour at sunset - Photo: Richard Slessor CCL

Aberdeen Beach - Photo: Richard Slessor CCL

Azalea garden at Hazlehead park - Photo: Richard Slessor CCL

ABERDEEN AIRPORT, DYCE

Situated at Dyce, north of the sprawling city of Aberdeen, this bustling, international airport boasts the busiest heliport in the world, helping thousands of oil riggers to reach their platforms out in the North Sea. Ferries sail from here to Orkney and the Shetlands Isles. Nearby is the golfing town of Newmachar.
 

River Don at Dyce - Photo: Richard Slessor CCL

ABERLOUR (CHARLESTOWN)

River Spey at Aberlour - Photo: Iain Macaulay CCL

Located at the heart of Speyside, this small village, otherwise known as Charlestown, may be noted for its salmon fishing and shortbread but it is world-famous for its single malt whisky produced since the early 19th century in a local distillery founded by John and James Grant. The oldest structure is a packhorse bridge which crosses the Lour burn.
 

ABOYNE

Based around a large green where a Highland Gathering takes place each year, Aboyne stands on the south side of the River Dee and is the ideal location from which to explore its picturesque surroundings. Its 13th century castle acted as a Gordon stronghold. The valley of Glen Tanar eventually leads to Glen Mark and the eastern Cairngorms, and at nearby Lumphanan lies Macbeth’s Cairn, reputed to be where Macbeth made his stand before being killed by Malcolm in the 11th century.
 

Winter on the Loch of Aboyne - Photo: Keith Grinsted CCL

ALFORD

Haughton Park Railway Station - Photo: Colin Smith CCL

This pretty market town, lying on the River Don on the fertile Howe of Alford, has a narrow gauge railway that carries visitors from a Victorian station through beautiful forest scenery. All manner of vehicles are on display at the local Grampian Transport Museum. Nearby Craigievar Castle looks almost Disneyesque and is practically unaltered since being built by the Forbes family in the early 17th century. In contrast, 14th century Kildrummy Castle - dismantled after the 1715 Jacobite rebellion - has been extensively restored. It has a splendid Alpine garden laid out by Japanese designers in 1904.

BALLATER

This is an irresistible resort lying on the River Dee in the menacing shadow of 3786ft Lochnagar. Nearby is a path which takes you to the 700ft summit of Craigendarroch (Hill of Oaks) and panoramic views. A one-time spa, it received the ultimate accolade when Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert purchased an old tower house nearby and converted it into Balmoral Castle in 1852.

The town, in upper Deeside, was largely created by Francis Farquson who built the original spa here after an old woman apparently cured herself of a skin condition by jumping into a bog at the foot of Pannanich Hill.
 

Bridge over the river Dee at Ballater - Photo: Daryl McKeown CCL

Ballater Golf Course - Photo: Greg Stringham CCL

Nearby is the Birkhall estate, on the River Muick, where a fine 18th century mansion bought from the Aberdalgie family was to become a residence for both the late Queen Mother and Prince Charles. A 19th century wire suspension bridge crosses the river. Close by is Crathie Church, a favourite haunt of the Royal Family.

BANCHORY

This small, ancient town sits stoically above the fast-flowing River Dee close to a number of forest walks. One path takes the visitor to the top of 1,000ft Scolty Hill, which has a monument to General Burnett, an officer in the Napoleonic Wars. His home was L-shaped Crathes Castle, a 16th century tower house said to be one of the finest Jacobean houses in Britain. Looking more like a chateau, it contains the Room of Nine Nobles, the Room of the Muses and the Room of the Green Lady - all famous for their painted ceilings. Its four-acre garden contains an ancient yew hedge while an ivory horn that once belonged to Robert the Bruce hangs in the Great Hall.

Banchory High Street - Photo: Richard Slessor CCL

BANFF

View of Banff across the mouth of the River Deveron - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

This picturesque and mostly Georgian resort boasting miles of beaches sits at the mouth of the River Deverton on the Moray Firth. Made a royal burgh in 1372 by Robert 11, it prospered in the 18th century once it had acquired a harbour. Its castle was built in the mid-18th century but Banff’s most famous building is restored Duff House. Completed in 1740 and built by William Adam, it is now a satellite of the National Galleries of Scotland. The Biggar Fountain stands on the site of a gallows where, in 1701, a local outlaw went to his death playing the fiddle.

BRAEMAR

With Balmoral Castle in close attendance, high-flying Braemar sits eagle-like at a height of 1,100ft in the Cairngorm Mountains, attracting thousands of visitors each year. It is world-famous for its September Highland Games, which are frequently attended by the Queen. The colourful event dates to the 11th century when Malcolm 111 set up contests to find his strongest warriors.

Braemar Castle - Photo:  Colin Smith CCL

View over Braemar - Photo: Peter Ward CCL

Nearby, the grey-granite Balmoral Castle started life as a 15th century tower house. It was bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the mid-19th century and transformed into a royal residence in the Scottish baronial style. Crathie Church, where the Royal Family still worship, stands on a knoll and was built of granite in 1895. The summit of Lochnagar towers above Balmoral while, below, the Royal Lochnagar Distillery is an ever-popular crowd-puller. Its unique malt was Queen Victoria’s personal favourite.

BUCKIE

With bottlenose dolphins chasing surf out in the bay, this fishing port, seemingly crammed with traditional fishermen’s cottages and distinctive kirks, sits proudly on the north coast of Moray and is part of Scotland’s self-proclaimed ‘Riviera’. The area has a series of splendid beaches while its climate is regarded as mild. Behind the town lie the beautiful Cairngorm Mountains.

View over Buckie - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

CRUDEN BAY

The Beach at Cruden Bay -
Photo: Richard Slessor CCL
 

Cruden Bay is a pretty coastal village with a fine small fishing harbour, good beaches and dunes, a championship golf course and, curiously, the echo of a vampire!

The peaceful beach scene opposite gives little indication of the activity that once was there.

In 1012, Cruden Bay was the site of a battle in which the Danes were defeated by the Scots and the name of the village is said to come from the Gaelic  for "Slaughter of Danes".

As is often the case with legislation, laws can have a negative effect. A building was taxable but a structure with no roof is not a building and is therefore not subject to tax. The castle and its contents had been sold in 1916 but when the new owner, Sir John Ellerman gave it up in 1920, its roof was removed to avoid tax and the building fell into decay. What a waste!

The Victorian era saw a great expansion which brought prosperity to Cruden Bay. In 1897 a railway branch line of the Great North of Scotland Railway Company was opened from Ellon to Boddam, and within a couple of years was built the golf course and a spectacular hotel (linked by its own tramway to the railway station). The company promoted Cruden Bay as a holiday destination for the gentry only 12 hours from London. Unfortunately the scheme failed. The railway was closed to passenger traffic in 1932, the hotel was requisitioned as an army hospital in 1939 and, although the railway had continued to be used for freight, it was eventually closed in 1945. All across the area visitors can see remains of the trackbed and bridges of this now defunct railway as it winds its way across the countryside.

The golf course, however, still survives and thrives.

Another claim to fame is that it was from here in June 1914 that the first flight across the North Sea started. Tryggve Gran, a 26 year old Norwegion serving as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps was determined to be the first to cross the North Sea from Scotland to Stavanger. He decided to fly from nearby Nethermill because there were many steamship routes between Peterhead and Stavanger. He thought that, should he get into difficulties and have to ditch in the sea, he would have a good chance of being picked up. The onset of the First World War meant that all civilian flights were to be banned from 6pm on 30th July so at 8am he set off in his plane "Ca Flotte", purchased from Louis Bleriot, but was forced back by fog to land on Cruden Bay beach. Eventually he took off and achieved his aim. A small memorial stands in the village.

Today, Cruden Bay attracts tourists. It has some small hotels and guesthouses, its well-known golf course, its magnificent long sandy beach and the small harbour area, more correctly called Port Erroll which is now home to just a few small fishing boats. Even in the height of summer the beach is uncrowded and there is no sign whatsoever of its biggest hidden secret. It was here beneath the sands of Cruden Bay, that the first North Sea Oil pipeline was laid to bring crude oil from the Forties field ashore. From here it is piped by underground pipeline to Grangemouth refinery.

BULLERS OF BUCHAN
Natural arch & sea caves

Just north of Cruden Bay is the spectacular Bullers of Buchan, an immense rock amphitheatre caused by a collapsed cavern and further carved out by the sea. It is close to the road, easily accessible on foot (though not with a wheelchair) and not to be missed. Care should be taken as it can be dangerous for children and animals.
 

CULLEN

This small fishing port on the north coast of Moray overlooks beautiful Cullen Bay, which boasts unusual rocks with names like Three Kings and the Bow Fiddle. The village was part-inspiration for ‘Portloise’ in George Macdonald’s famous novel ‘Malcolm’, published in 1875. The diarist and author Dr Johnson paid Cullen a visit in 1773. A haddock-based soup known as the ‘Cullen Skink’ has its roots here.

The upper part of Cullen was planned in 1832. When the railway was being built, the Countess of Seafield would not allow the track to be built through the grounds of Cullen house, so it was carried on viaducts through the town

Cullen Viaduct - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

DUFFTOWN

Balvenie Castle, Dufftown - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

This is the self-proclaimed ‘Malt Whisky Capital of the World’ and is where the River Fiddich and Dullan Water meet. It was founded by James Duff, 4th Earl of Fife, in 1817. Both the Glenfiddich Distillery and the Balvenie Distillery are nearby. They offer a chance for visitors to see how single malts are created in a process that has changed little since malts were first produced here in the 19th century.

A clock tower in the village centre houses an interesting museum while Balvenie Castle – now a ruin – is one of the oldest stone-built castles in Scotland’s. Two miles from Balvenie are the ruins of 15th century Auchindoun which was virtually destroyed during a battle involving rival clans in the 16th century.

ELGIN

Elgin Cathedral Ruins - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

Built around a medieval street plan, this royal and ancient borough is today a key centre for tourists heading for the area known as Moray. Only a small part of the town’s castle survives but Elgin’s twice-ruined 13th century cathedral is considered one of Scotland’s finest ecclesiastical buildings. First burned down by Wolf of Badenoch, illegitimate son of Robert 11 in 1390, it is known as the ‘lantern of the north’.

ELLON

FINDHORN

Findhorn Bay - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

This pretty village lies at the mouth of the Findhorn river and has a golden beach. Over the centuries its sands have swallowed up valuable farming land, forcing the village to move at least three times. During the 18th century it was a busy port but in 1829 it was overwhelmed by floodwater, with the river rising by an astonishing 49 feet.

More recently a so-called ‘New Age’ community has established itself here, led by the founders, Peter and Eileen Caddy, in the 1960s. Projects include a biological sewage works. Members of the unorthodox society claim to have grown giant food plants on virtually barren sand dunes.

FOCHABERS

This pretty village lying on the River Spey was created in the 18th century by the 4th Duke of Gordon who believed the original village lay too close to his castle. It boasts a number of antique shops and an abiding reputation for producing top-quality ‘fiddlers’. Indeed, it was the birthplace of the well-known fiddler and composer William Marshall (1748-1833).

The family-run firm of Baxters, which uses secret recipes in its tinned products, is based here. The company was founded in 1868 by George Baxter, a one-time gardener at the former Gordon Castle.

Gordon Castle, Fochabers - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

FORRES

Suenos Stone at Forres - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

Although most of the buildings are Victorian, this ancient royal burgh near the mouth of River Findhorn in Moray was created around a medieval street plan. It played host to both King Duncan and Macbeth and several Shakespearian scenes can be located here, including Macbeth’s fateful confrontation with a trio of fortune-telling witches. In fact, a witch’s stone lies at the foot of Cluny Hill where real-life ‘witches’ were burned.

The huge Sueno’s Stone marks the victory of Sweyn the Viking over Malcolm 111 in the early 11th century. It has Pictish carvings dated to c.900 AD.

The Falconer Museum has displays on local history while Brodie Castle, run by the National Trust for Scotland, has exhibitions including paintings, furniture and porcelain.

FRASERBURGH

GLENLIVET

HUNTLY

Huntly Castle - Photo: Lyall Duffus CCL

This lovely market town lies on the River Bogie where it joins the larger Deveron and offers fishing, walking and castle-spotting. Ruined Huntly Castle was home to the once-mighty Gordons - they gave their name to the ‘Gay Gordons’ dance. It sulks in a beautiful wooded park looking down on a dramatic gorge. The famous Gordons lived here for nearly 400 years and designed the town in the 18th century. Druminor Castle, once home of the Forbes clan, dates from the 15th century while

the ‘Stan’in Stanes of Strathlogie’, in the town centre, are the remains of an ancient Druidic circle.

INSCH

INVERBERVIE

INVERURIE

It was here during a famous battle in 1307 that the mighty Robert the Bruce defeated John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, cousin of the ‘Red Comyn’ who had been killed by Bruce at Dumfries a year earlier. Overshadowed by the hill of Bennachie and its Pictish hillfort, the village lies on a noted game fishing river beside which are the ruins of Inverurie Castle. There are several prehistoric sites here and historians believe the battle of Mons Graupis may have taken place at Inverurie in 84AD. Then. Scottish warriors were soundly defeated by the Romans led by Agricola in a battle that created the name ‘Grampians’.

The Bass of Inverurie, Norman castle mound - Photo: Colin Smith CCL

KEITH

Strathilsa Distillery - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

Gateway to the so-called ‘Malt Whisky Trail’, Keith hosts Scotland’s oldest working malt whisky distillery, Strathilsa, but there are many other distilleries in the nearby hills. The Auld Brig o’ Keith, dating from 1609, is one of two historic bridges that join Keith to Fife Keith. The ruined Milton Tower was once the home of the Oliphant family.

Keith was the birthplace of James Gordon Bennett whose name has become synonymous with a mild expletive. The originator of ‘chequebook journalism’, he was both founder and editor of the New York Herald in the 19th century.

KILDRUMMY

KINGUSSIE

KINTORE

Kintore Town Centre - Photo: Colin Walker CCL

This small town lies near the River Don and was founded in the late 12th century as a royal burgh. It was only the fourth town in Scotland to be given a royal charter (1506). Now in ruins, Halforest Castle – with 7ft thick walls - was built in 1296 and was one of the earliest of Scotland’s tower houses and played host to numerous members of royalty. Castle Fraser is another town house close to neighbouring Kemnay but is possibly Scotland’s most photographed ‘castle’. The nearby village of Monymusk has a Norman church and arts Centre.
 

LAURENCEKIRK

Just a few miles from bustling Montrose, the small town of Laurencekirk is ‘capital’ of the Howe of the Mearns and was largely created by Lord Gardenstone in the mid-18th century. He not only brought loom weaving to the area but was also behind the local craft of snuff-box making. On the nearby Hill of Garvock stands the Johnstone Tower, built by James Farquhar using materials not needed for his own mansion.
 

Tower of Johnstone - Photo: Lloyd Housley CCL

LOSSIEMOUTH

West beach at Lossiemouth - Photo: Richard Slessor CCL

A busy fishing port and seaside resort with a splendid coastline, Lossiemouth stands on the River Lossie where it enters the Moray Firth. Britain’s first Labour Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, was born here in 1866. RAF Lossiemouth is said to be the air force’s busiest and largest ‘fast jet’ base. Gordonstoun School stands close by - both the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales were pupils.

MACDUFF

With a stunning marine aquarium possessing the deepest tank of any British aquarium, this old village across the bay from Banff was formerly called Doune but was renamed in honour of his father by James McDuff, Earl of Fife, in 1783. Its bustling harbour is replete with lobster pots and fishing nets. A harbour was first built in Macduff in 1760.

The maritime heritage of this region has meant that there has always been a need for  boat-builders and shipyards. However, the decline in the fishing industry has meant that many of these have now gone out of business and few survive.
 

Macduff Harbour - Photo:  Colin Smith CCL
 

Whilst there are still some traditionally-built wooden boats, there are few people left with the skills to work on them.

Macduff Shipyards still provide a maintenance service for wooden fishing boats which are hauled up a slipway from the dock so that they can be worked on as in this photograph taken in 2006.
 

Over the last few years, an annual exhibition has been set up in the area by a  group of volunteers known as the Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association.

For 2006 and 2007, the exhibition is housed at 6 to 8 Duff St, Macduff and runs from June to October 1pm to 5pm ever day except Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7pm to 9pm.

The ultimate goal of the association is to have a permanent exhibition in premises owned by the association. Fund-raising will continue to try to achieve this aim.

During the summer season there will be a variety of slideshows / videos and films available to view, these will generally be of the local fishing heritage, but may also show local attractions such as the beautiful Banffshire coast.

The exhibition includes information and displays on Fishing heritage & Shipbuilding, paintings, old photographs, boats and oil-rig models, stories and poems.
 

METHLICK

The cast iron bridge over the River Ythan at Methlick was originally built in 1844 on the order of Lord Aberdeen who lived at nearby Haddo House.

The designers were the famous father & son team of architects, John & William Smith. Eventually the bridge became unable to cope with modern day traffic and was refurbished in 2003.
This view of the bridge is across the "Laird's Cricket Ground", home of the MCC (Methlick Cricket Club).
 

MINTLAW

Aden house in Aden Country Park - Photo:  Colin Smith CCL

This village is the largest in the central Buchan region and lies at an important crossroads for traffic, also being an access point on the 36-mile Buchan Walkway. It was created – like so many places in eastern Scotland – to house local estate workers in the 19th century. It had the distinct advantage, even then, of being strategically important and by the 1860s had its own railway station. Nearby is beautiful Aden Country Park with a heritage centre, nature trails and a working farm.

NAIRN

NEWBURGH

Newburgh (sometimes called Newburgh on Ythan) is a coastal village at the mouth of the River Ythan on Aberdeenshire's east coast midway between Aberdeen and Peterhead. The area is dominated by fine sand-dunes including the Sands of Forvie which have been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

It is claimed that the nearby Forvie Nature Reserve has the biggest population of eider ducks in the world.

Beside the beach in Newburgh is an eighteen hole golf course with a spectacular bird shaped clubhouse and restaurant.
 

Mouth of the River Ythan at Newburgh - Photo: Peter Crump CCL

NEWMACHAR

OLDMELDRUM

Oldmeldrum centre - Photo: Lizzie CCL

It was in this ancient town near Inverurie that the Earl of Buchan's army were briefly accommodated before they faced defeat at the hands of mighty Robert the Bruce. Meldrum House started life as a castle before it was converted into a splendid mansion. Nearby is the distillery of single malt Glen Garioch which dates back at least to 1797.
 

PITMEDDEN

PETERHEAD

PORTSOY

Portsoy old boat festival - Photo: Greg Stringham CCL

A small, pleasant resort, Portsoy is a one-time fishing port near Banff which stages an annual festival involving wooden sailing boats and other small craft. Local red and green Portsoy marble was quarried close to the restored 17th century harbour and was even used in the building of the opulent Palace of Versailles.

A coastal walks lead to the beautiful beach of Sandend Bay and the ruins of 16th century Boyne Castle.

ROSEHEARTY

Lying on the north coast of Buchan, this picturesque fishing port near sandy Fraserburgh Bay was founded in the 14th century by a band of shipwrecked Danish sailors. Cowshaven Cave became a hiding place for Lord Pitsligo after he was outlawed following the Jacobite rebellion of 1745.

In 1424 Pitsligo Castle was built by the Fraser family and was enlarged by the Forbes family in 1570: the Frasers moving to Pittulie Castle. Both castles can be seen from the vllage.

Old Pitsligo Parish Church - Photo: J M Briscoe CCL

ROTHES

View over Rothes from Castle ruins - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

This small town lying on the River Spey in Moray has no less than FIVE whisky distilleries – Glen Grant, Speyburn, Glenrothes, Flen Spey and Capperdonich. The town itself dates back to the 19th century but it has thee remains of a medieval castle built by Peter de Pollok in about 1200. Edward I stayed here. Distilling began with Glen Grant 1840.

SPEY BAY

ST. CYRUS

St. Cyrus Beach - Photo: Anne Burgess CCL

This area of golden sand and undulating dunes protected by beautiful cliffs has an abundance of wild flowers, butterflies and moths. Once an important centre for salmon netting, it has porpoises playing in the ocean while a variety of birds swoop overhead. A National Nature Reserve has been established in the bay and its 200-plus acres have more than 300 species of plants.

The ruined 14th century Kaim of Mathers castle hangs dramatically above the surf.

STONEHAVEN

Stonehaven Harbour

Every Hogmanay the young men of this port near Aberdeen take part in ‘Swinging the Fireballs’ - a wintry fire ceremony designed to thwart any wandering evil spirits. It was here in 2003 that the oldest known fossil of a land animal (a 420 million-year-old millipede) was found.

The biggest attraction, however, is the dramatic ruin of Dunottar Castle south of the town. With cliffs on three sides and the North Sea on the fourth, it sits on a 150ft high promontory. The site of an earlier Pictish fort, it came under attack from both William Wallace (1297) and the Marquess of Montrose (1645). Franco Zefferelli featured it in his movie ‘Hamlet’, starring Mel Gibson who, coincidentally, also played the Scottish warrior William Wallace in ‘Braveheart’.

Dunottar Castle

The Tolbooth
 

The oldest building in Stonehaven is the Tolbooth, built by the Earl Marischal as a store during the construction of Dunnottar Castle. When Stonehaven became the county town in 1600, it was used as the County Buildings, Sheriff Court House and prison. Today it houses a museum on the ground floor and the Tolbooth Restaurant upstairs.
 

Another feature for which Stonehaven is famous is its swimming pool, the only art deco, olympic sized, fully filtrated sea water, open air swimming pool in the UK, a Scottish Tourist Board 4* attraction. During the summer season, daytime swimming is simply superb in this pool, with its bright paintwork, walled sun terraces and awnings, patio armchairs and sunloungers, full disabled access, two water chutes, relaxing background music and a cosy poolside cafe complete with verandah, serving hot and cold snacks all day ........ or how about the spectacular and popular floodlit midnight swims, held from 10pm until after midnight on most Wednesday nights in season - an unforgettable experience. There are also occasional licensed Saturday night BBQs complete with live music.

Stonehaven Swimming Pool

STRATHDON

This tiny village lies in the narrow upper valley of the Don, Scotland’s sixth largest river. Dominated by its church spire, it is a place for walkers, anglers, sightseers and photographers. Nearby is the Lost Gallery, which displays modern art in a gloriously serene setting, and Candacraig Castle – Highland home of comedian Billy Connolly – and Corgarff Castle, a tower house. The latter was built in about 1530 by the Elphinstones. It was burned in 1571 by Adam Gordon of Auchindoun, killing nearly 30 people.
 

March of the Lonach Highlanders - Photo: Colin Smith CCL

STRICHEN

TOMINTOUL

UDNY

Udny Castle near Udny Green is a typical Scottish tower house with ornamental turrets, built by the Udny family in around the 15th century and still in the hands of family decendants today. Additional wings were added in the 19th century but were demolished in the 1960's.

In 1634 the family moved to their other property of Knockhall Castle, but after a devastating fire 100 years later, they returned to Udny.

 
Udny Castle

In Udny, they built a Morthouse. This circular stone building houses a revolving wheel upon which a coffin would be placed and kept securely under lock and key. When another body was deposited, the wheel would be turned slightly to accommodate the new coffin.

Eventually, when a coffin had been rotated one full revolution, it could safely be buried because the corpse would be sufficiently decomposed as to be of no use to the body-snatchers.

TURRIFF