Auchindoun Castle

Address: 2 miles south of Dufftown, just off the A941. Grid Ref. 28 NJ 348 376 Town: Dufftown County: Moray Telephone: 01667 460232 Website: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Description Auchindoun Castle is an L plan tower house of three storeys, built on the earthworks of an iron age hill fort.   Auchindoun sits perched on a hilltop around two miles south of Dufftown, with commanding views over the surrounding hills. Auchindoun was built in the 15th century for John Stuart, Earl of Mar.   John Stuart died while being held prisoner by his brother, James III.   The castle, estates and titles of the Earl of Mar were bestowed on Robert Cochrane who was an architect and favourite of James III.   Following the murder of Robert Cochrane, the castle passed through many hands before being taken over by the Gordon clan in 1535 but was destroyed when the Mackintosh's burned the castle in 1591 in revenge for the murder of the Bonnie Earl o' Moray by the Marquis of Huntly and Sir Patrick Gordon of Auchindoun.   Auchindoun was restored after the Mackintosh's destructive rampage but fell in to disuse and by 1725 the stonework was being heavily pilfered for use in local house building. Auchindoun Castle is cared for by Historic Scotland and can be accessed on foot only, via a track which is signposted from the main road.   The castle can be viewed from the exterior only.