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The broken grey walls of Auchindoun Castle and its outer wall on a green hilltop under a bright sky.
Morayshire

Auchindoun Castle

The lonely ruin of a 1400s stronghold high on a hill above the glen near Dufftown, free to wander.

Welcome

On a green hilltop above the glen south-east of Dufftown, the broken walls of Auchindoun Castle stand alone against the sky.

It is a lonely, romantic place, with barely a house in sight and views that run for miles on every side.

The castle was built in the 1400s, perhaps by Thomas Cochrane, a favourite of King James III, and in its day it was a fine stronghold with handsome stone vaults. The Ogilvys held it in the early 1500s, then sold it to Sir Adam Gordon in 1567. Soon afterwards it was burned during a clan feud, and by 1725 it lay empty.

Today it is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, free and open at any time. A small car park takes a handful of cars, and from there a rough track climbs for about twenty minutes to the ruin. Visitors say the walk up is not hard.

A short drive awaySidings CafeA cafe in two 1950s railway carriages at Dufftown station, serving light lunches, home bakes and cream teas for the heritage trains.7 min by roadSee itSidings Cafe
Before you go

Open all year round and free, with no tickets.

Where
Near Dufftown, AB55 4DR.
Built
The 1400s.
Care of
Historic Environment Scotland.
Where it is

South-east of Dufftown, above the glen of the River Fiddich, AB55 4DR; a small car park, then a walk of about twenty minutes up a rough track.

Close byDufftown.
  1. DufftownDufftownA granite Speyside town laid out in 1817 round its clock tower, the self-styled malt whisky capital, with six distilleries in and around it.3 miles5 min by road
  2. BEINN Coffee & Books, MorayshireBEINN Coffee & BooksA coffee shop with a bookshop behind it on Balvenie Street in Dufftown, open every day from eight.3 miles5 min by road
  3. Glenfiddich DistilleryGlenfiddich DistilleryThe distillery at Dufftown.3 miles7 min by road
  4. Dufftown station sign mounted on a wooden shed with railway carriage alongsideThe Keith & Dufftown RailwayThe heritage railway from Dufftown.4 miles7 min by road
  5. Concrete trig point overlooking layered hills at sunsetBen RinnesThe hill to the west.9 miles16 min by road
Directions
Sidings Cafe, MorayshireRestaurantsSidings Cafe3.8 miles
Worker in red shirt steams whisky casks beside a warehouse boilerAttractionsSpeyside Cooperage6.6 miles
The Fiddichside Inn's name is painted in red across its whitewashed chimney gable.BarsThe Fiddichside Inn7.5 miles
A cast-iron arched bridge with castellated stone towers spans a rocky river gorge, pine-covered cliffs rising on the far bank.AttractionsCraigellachie7.7 miles
War memorial with poppy wreaths in front of a stone church towerRestaurantsAberlour Hotel9.0 miles
Close-up of a bald eagle's white head and hooked yellow beakAttractionsHuntly Falconry Centre12 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the castle, and when each is next free.

A stone farmhouse with a slated roof and green door sits behind a lawn, a timber garden room extending to one side.Chapelton
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Morayshire
  • 15 miles from Auchindoun Castle
Free 26–28 OctA stone farmhouse with a gabled dormer window sits behind a timber picket fence, trees shading the drive.Home Farm
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Morayshire
  • 15 miles from Auchindoun Castle
Free 28–30 OctA stone cottage with green-framed dormer windows and matching door stands behind a gravel drive, trees and open fields beyond.Dalgrassick
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Morayshire
  • 15 miles from Auchindoun Castle
Free 2–4 NovA stone house with three dormer windows and a yellow front door sits behind a lawn, terracotta pots flanking the entrance.Greenstyle
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Morayshire
  • 15 miles from Auchindoun Castle
Free 16–18 OctPlaces to stayEvery stay in MorayshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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