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The broken tower of Dunnideer Castle, a great window through it, on the grassy top of the hill.
Aberdeenshire

Dunnideer Castle

A broken castle wall of around 1260 on a hilltop ringed by a fort of fused stone.

Welcome

Dunnideer rises just west of Insch as a steep, tidy cone, and on its top stands what is left of a castle built around 1260: one tall, weather-beaten wall with a great empty window that shows the sky from miles away.

It may be the earliest tower house on the Scottish mainland.

The builders took much of their stone from the prehistoric fort that already ringed the summit, a vitrified fort, whose rampart walls were once burned so hot that the rock fused. At least five rings of defences can still be traced round the hill, and there are the remains of a recumbent stone circle close by.

From the small car park at the foot it is a climb of ten minutes or so, short but steep in its upper half. There are a couple of benches at the top and the view runs all the way round, over the rolling Garioch farmland to Bennachie. There is no charge and usually nobody about. The Picardy Stone, outside Insch, is four miles away.

A short drive awayMorgan McVeigh'sA country restaurant at Colpy with a full Scottish breakfast and a view to Bennachie.11 min by roadSee itThe timber-roofed dining room at Morgan McVeigh's, tables by tall windows.
Before you go

A short, steep climb of about ten minutes from the car park at the foot.

Free and open at any time.

Where
West of Insch.
Climb
About ten minutes, steep.
Where it is

Insch.

Close byAround Insch.
  1. The Picardy Stone standing in its field near Insch, a rough whinstone slab.The Picardy StoneA Pictish symbol stone still standing where it was raised, over a grave, outside Insch.4 miles12 min by road
  2. Leith Hall, pale harled walls and turrets, above its gravel drive.Leith HallA quirky National Trust house of 1650, seen by guided tour, with a hidden-gem garden.6 miles12 min by road
  3. The tall red granite Maiden Stone under Bennachie, its carving worn by weather.The Maiden StoneA tall red granite Pictish cross-slab under Bennachie, carved with beasts, a cross and spirals.7 miles10 min by road
  4. White gabled building with red door, sign reading "Old Post Office" above windowsOld Post Office Tea Room8 miles12 min by road
  5. A Pictish stone at Rhynie, its incised symbols faint on the pink granite.Rhynie Pictish StonesThree carved Pictish stones by the old kirkyard at Rhynie, under Tap o' Noth.9 miles17 min by road
Directions
The timber-roofed dining room at Morgan McVeigh's, tables by tall windows.RestaurantsMorgan McVeigh's6.1 miles
The cone of the Mither Tap rising above forest and fields.AttractionsBennachie9.9 miles
The roofless kirk of St Mary at Auchindoir among its gravestones and trees.AttractionsSt Mary's Church, Auchindoir11 miles
Visitors among a steam engine and old cars in the Grampian Transport Museum.AttractionsGrampian Transport Museum11 miles
The Brandsbutt Stone, pieced back together, its symbols and line of Ogham on the grey whinstone.AttractionsThe Brandsbutt Stone11 miles
Dreamy Goat Coffee's white cottage front on North Street, Inverurie.CafeDreamy Goat Coffee Co.11 miles
Two little green engines of the Alford Valley Railway with red buffers, outside the engine shed.AttractionsAlford Valley Railway13 miles
The green front of the Alford Heritage Museum under its painted sign, in the old auction mart.AttractionsAlford Heritage Museum13 miles
The red front of the Dean's building on Depot Road in Huntly under its name.CafeDean's of Huntly13 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near Dunnideer Castle, and when each is next free.

A single-storey lodge with a slated roof sits behind a stone wall and clipped hedge, mature trees shading the curving drive.Gate Lodge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Rothiemay
  • 12 miles from Dunnideer Castle
Check datesA triangular timber cabin stands behind a wooden gate and post-and-rail fence, bare trees framing the entrance.Midpark
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Rothiemay
  • 12 miles from Dunnideer Castle
Free 27–29 OctA stone cottage with a slated roof and a blue front door, climbing roses in pink and white flanking the porch.Butlers Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Aberdeenshire
  • 12 miles from Dunnideer Castle
Free 17–19 OctA grey stone cottage with dormer windows and a black front door, climbing roses either side, set behind a lawn.Bailies Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Rothiemay
  • 12 miles from Dunnideer Castle
Free 26–28 OctPlaces to stayEvery stay in AberdeenshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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