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An aerial view of a ruined castle on a rocky headland surrounded by the sea
Aberdeenshire

Dunnottar Castle

The clifftop ruin of the Earls Marischal on a 160-foot rock south of Stonehaven, surrounded on three sides by the sea, where the Honours of Scotland were hidden from Cromwell's army.

Welcome

A mile and a half south of Stonehaven, the clifftop path turns a corner and there it is: a great flat-topped rock standing out of the sea, joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land, and covered from edge to edge with the ruins of a castle.

The rock, 160 feet high, is made of pudding stone, pebbles set in natural cement, and the sea surrounds it on three sides. For more than a thousand years it was at the centre of Scotland's story. William Wallace and Mary, Queen of Scots both came here, and it was the stronghold of the Earls Marischal, among the most powerful families in the land. Its proudest moment came in the 1650s, when the Honours of Scotland, the crown jewels, were kept safe here from Oliver Cromwell's army.

A steep path and steps lead down and up again to the gatehouse, and the ruins can be explored end to end.

Before you go

Open daily, 9am to 6pm, from April to September, then 10am to 5pm until 24 October and shorter hours through the winter; last entry an hour before closing.

It can close at short notice in high winds or snow, so check before setting out. Tickets on arrival or online, cards only. There are steep steps down and up from the clifftop path.

Where
Off the A92, 1.6 miles south of Stonehaven, AB39 2TL.
Telephone
01569 766320.
Getting in
Steep steps down to the rock and back up.

Opening hours

Monday
9am–6pm
Tuesday
9am–6pm
Wednesday
9am–6pm
Thursday
9am–6pm
Friday
9am–6pm
Saturday
9am–6pm
Sunday
9am–6pm

Did you know

A rocky sea stack surrounded by breaking waves, seen from directly above
Did you know

Pudding stone.

The rock beneath the castle is a conglomerate called pudding stone, pebbles held in a natural cement like raisins in a cake.

An aerial view of a ruined castle on a rocky headland, farmland and a town stretching along the coast
Did you know

The Honours saved.

In the 1650s the Honours of Scotland were kept safe at Dunnottar from Cromwell's army.

A ruined castle standing on a rocky headland surrounded by the sea, a path winding up from the cliffs
Did you know

Picts next door.

Archaeologists have found evidence of Picts on Dunnicaer, the sea stack just north of the castle.

Ben Lerwill

From our guide to Aberdeenshire

It’s hard to imagine today, but the dramatic crumbled masonry of Dunnottar Castle was once a stronghold that welcomed Mary Queen of Scots. Set on a grassy bluff high above the waves, it was originally built way back in the 9th century. The clifftop walk to reach it, from nearby Stonehaven, is a memorable one.

Read more
01 / 05
Where it is

On the clifftops 1.6 miles south of Stonehaven, on the Aberdeenshire coast.

Close byStonehaven.
  1. The white front of the Carron Fish Bar in Stonehaven with its sign about the deep-fried Mars bar.The Carron Fish BarThe Stonehaven chip shop where, the story goes, the deep-fried Mars bar was first fried, in 1992.3 miles 5 min by road
  2. StonehavenStonehavenA harbour town south of Aberdeen.3 miles 6 min by road
  3. The white front of the Marine Hotel on the harbour at Stonehaven.The Marine HotelA harbourside bar serving the beer of its own brewery, six°north, and some of the best from Belgium.3 miles 6 min by road
  4. The white front of the Ship Inn on Stonehaven harbour.The Ship InnAn inn of 1771 on the edge of Stonehaven harbour, with malts, real ale and a sun terrace.3 miles 6 min by road
  5. Crawton WaterfallCrawton WaterfallA burn pouring over the sea cliffs beside an empty village.3 miles 7 min by road
  6. Swimmers and sunbathers round Stonehaven's open-air pool on a sunny day.Stonehaven Outdoor PoolAn Art Deco open-air pool on the seafront.3 miles 7 min by road
Directions
Connie & Ruby's shop interior with a red counter and colourful trinketsRestaurantsMy Beautiful Caravan2.6 miles
The white-streaked sea cliffs of Fowlsheugh above blue water, a seabird in flight.AttractionsRSPB Scotland Fowlsheugh2.6 miles
Waterfall dropping from grassy cliffs into a sheltered sea inletAttractionsRSPB Fowlsheugh2.6 miles
Plated chicken with tagliatelle and artichoke on a white-clothed restaurant tableRestaurantsTolbooth Seafood Restaurant2.9 miles
Man in chef's cap leans from serving hatch at thebayfishandchips.comRestaurantsThe Bay Fish & Chips3.1 miles
The ice-cream counter at Aunty Betty's under its painted ceiling.CafeAunty Bettys3.1 miles
The white Creel Inn at Catterline with its sign, a lobster creel on the terrace.RestaurantsThe Creel Inn4.3 miles
Rowing boat "The Gray Starling" sits among wildflowers overlooking a rocky sea stackAttractionsCatterline Bay4.5 miles
ShoppingSillyflatt Farm Shop8.8 miles
The Daily for 17 October, from Scotland with love. A wide waterfall churns over rock ledges, autumn trees lining the gorge.

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Stay nearby

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

Timber cabin with metal roof and decking surrounded by woodland treesNorth Lodge and River Cabin
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Banchory
  • 14 miles from Dunnottar
Free 29–30 OctA stone farmhouse covered in climbing ivy stands behind a gravel drive, seen through overhanging pine branches.Cuttieshillock
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Glen Dye
  • 14 miles from Dunnottar
Free 17–19 OctA stone cottage with dormer windows sits behind a low blue gate, a rose-covered archway framing the front door.Gamekeeper’s Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Strachan
  • 14 miles from Dunnottar
Free 2–4 NovA stone steading with a slated pyramid roof and a chimney stands behind a green nameplate sign, a chair visible through the window.No 2 Steading Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Strachan
  • 14 miles from Dunnottar
Free 18–20 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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