Image Findlater Castle vbn1271jhp by Jim Henderson

 
Scotland > Historic Properties > Findlater Castle vbn1271jhp
This gallery has photographs of Scottish Castles and Fortresses, Stately Homes and Gardens, old churches or kirks and includes most of the following:
Auchindoir Church; Auchindoun Castle; Balmoral Castle; Balvenie Castle; Bass of Inverurie; Bellabeg Motte; Braemar Castle; Brodie Castle; Castle Fraser; Corgarff Castle; Corrichie Monument; Corse O’Neil Castle; Craigellachie Bridge; Crathes Castle; Crathie Kirk; Dalgetie Castle; Deer Abbey; Drum Castle; Duff House; Duffus Castle; Dunnideer; Dunnottar Castle; Elgin Cathedral; Esslemont Castle; Fasque House; Fetternear House; Findlater; Fordyce; Fyvie Castle; Gairnshiel Bridge; Glenbuchat Castle; Haddo House; Hallforest Castle; Huntly Castle; Inchdrewer Castle; Invercauld Bridge O’Dee; Kildrummy Castle; Kincardine O’Neil Kirk; Kindrochit Castle; Kinloss Abbey; Kinneff Church; Knock Castle; Leith Hall; Mar Lodge; Marnoch Kirkyard; Mid Mar Kirk; Monymusk Kirk; Peel of Lumphanan; Pitmedden Gardens; Pluscarden Priory or Abbey; Ruthven Barracks; Slains Castle; Tolquhon Castle; Tullich Kirk; Fort George;
Findlater Castle vbn1271jhp Findlater Castle Ruin stonework walls standing Jim Henderson Photograph closeup is a ruined castle whose current ruins were probably erected before 1411 by Sir John Sinclair of Findlater before his death at the Battle of Harlaw near Inverurie. Built in the style of his castle Roslyn, it was taken over by Ogilvie of Deskford during the reign of James 11 and its fortifications strengthened. Subsequently handed to Sir John Gordon but was abandoned in 1600 and fell in ruin by 1638 never to be repaired again. It is located on a steep buff below rugged and almost inaccessible cliffs just north west of Sandend near Portsoy on the northern coast of Aberdeenshire facing the Moray Firth. There was an original fortress on the site dating back to before 1246 when records indicate that it was to be fortified during the reign of King Alexander 111 to fend off attacks by the Vikings although it was subsequently captured by them. The Ogilvie’s had lost interest in Findlater Castle after they decided to build Cullen House a somewhat different elegant mansion close to Cullen. Once there was a wooden bridge giving access to the castle after a steep descent down the cliffs. Little now remains of the building and it is now in a dangerous state of repair and although accessible should be taken with great care. Remains of some walls which include two floors with vaulted rooms possibly the kitchen and a dungeon can be easily seen from the clifftop as in this photograph. There is a signed carpark as you leave Portsoy and pass Sandend. From the carpark at the rear of farm buildings you pass a doocot on the left but continue on straight down towards the cliffs along a grass cut path and you will see the castle below you where there are seats and an information board. The name it is suggested might derive from the Norse Fyn is white and leitr for cliff, giving Fynleitr or Fynletyr whereas another suggestion is from the Gaelic with fionn for white and leitir for cliff both relating to the nature of the cliffs around this area exhibiting high deposits of quartz. Keywords: Scotland, Scottish, Grampian, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Firth, Portsoy, Sandend, Banff, Cullen, Findlater, Castle, ruined, north, east, sea, landscape, blue, sky, waves, crashing, dramatic, clouds, spectacular, eerie, spooky, coast, coastal, steep, narrow, paths, grassy, inaccessible, dangerous, cliffs, rocks, lichen, grass, headland, vaults, windows, walls, stonework, weathered, erosion, 2015, October, autumn, Nikon, D700, digital, DSLR, sun, sunny, sunshine, colours, colors, colourful, colorful, blue, sky
© Jim Henderson
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Photographer: Jim Henderson
Collection: Historic Properties
Filename:
Findlater Castle vbn1271jhp
Upload Date: 2015-10-08 10:52:19
Photo Size: 14mb 5325x3543 pixels
Preview:
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Caption:

Findlater Castle Ruin stonework walls standing Jim Henderson Photograph closeup

is a ruined castle whose current ruins were probably erected before 1411 by Sir John Sinclair of Findlater before his death at the Battle of Harlaw near Inverurie. Built in the style of his castle Roslyn, it was taken over by Ogilvie of Deskford during the reign of James 11 and its fortifications strengthened. Subsequently handed to Sir John Gordon but was abandoned in 1600 and fell in ruin by 1638 never to be repaired again. It is located on a steep buff below rugged and almost inaccessible cliffs just north west of Sandend near Portsoy on the northern coast of Aberdeenshire facing the Moray Firth. There was an original fortress on the site dating back to before 1246 when records indicate that it was to be fortified during the reign of King Alexander 111 to fend off attacks by the Vikings although it was subsequently captured by them. The Ogilvie’s had lost interest in Findlater Castle after they decided to build Cullen House a somewhat different elegant mansion close to Cullen.

Once there was a wooden bridge giving access to the castle after a steep descent down the cliffs. Little now remains of the building and it is now in a dangerous state of repair and although accessible should be taken with great care. Remains of some walls which include two floors with vaulted rooms possibly the kitchen and a dungeon can be easily seen from the clifftop as in this photograph. There is a signed carpark as you leave Portsoy and pass Sandend. From the carpark at the rear of farm buildings you pass a doocot on the left but continue on straight down towards the cliffs along a grass cut path and you will see the castle below you where there are seats and an information board.
The name it is suggested might derive from the Norse Fyn is white and leitr for cliff, giving Fynleitr or Fynletyr whereas another suggestion is from the Gaelic with fionn for white and leitir for cliff both relating to the nature of the cliffs around this area exhibiting high deposits of quartz.
Keywords: Scotland, Scottish, Grampian, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Firth, Portsoy, Sandend, Banff, Cullen, Findlater, Castle, ruined, north, east, sea, landscape, blue, sky, waves, crashing, dramatic, clouds, spectacular, eerie, spooky, coast, coastal, steep, narrow, paths, grassy, inaccessible, dangerous, cliffs, rocks, lichen, grass, headland, vaults, windows, walls, stonework, weathered, erosion, 2015, October, autumn, Nikon, D700, digital, DSLR, sun, sunny, sunshine, colours, colors, colourful, colorful, blue, sky