Windswept Dunbeath Castle perches on the clifftop on the opposite side of the bay and perched right on the edge and said to have underground tunnels.
Dunbeath is a 17th century tower house with four floors and several additions, founded by the Crichtons, just south of Wick. In the 17th century, the Sinclairs of Geanies absorbed the old tower, in the construction a four storey E-plan tower house, which was later enlarged by the addiction of 19th century ranges. The castle has been remodelled many times and has a more modern appearance. The last two remodels occurred in the 1850s and 1881. Dunbeath Castle is listed at The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.
The earliest reference to a fortification there goes back to 1428, when the estate belonged to the Earl of Caithness. Dunbeath then passed to the Innes family but in 1529 became part of the estates of the Sinclairs when Alexander Sinclair of Starminster, a younger son of the 2nd Earl of Caithness, married the heiress, Elizabeth Innes. For a time, the barony of Dunbeath was taken over by Lord Forbes, but John Sinclair of Geanies repurchased the property around 1624. It was probably John who extensively remodelled Dunbeath castle and built the upper storeys in the 1630s.
The oldest part of the castle lies at the south-west corner, and dates largely from the 17th century. More modern additions have been made to the north and east, in a Scots Baronial style to match the earlier building. The interiors are much altered. The defensive site was enhanced by a dry ditch on the landward side, which cuts across the narrow promontory on which the castle stands.
Dunbeath Estate, with its spectacular castle perched on a high rocky seacliffs overlooking North Sea coast, lies on the north east coast of Scotland in the most northerly mainland county of Caithness, being 20 miles south of Wick and 90 miles north of Inverness. Dunbeath castle, Caithness, has a spectacular entrance avenue lined with sycamores. Dunbeath Castle is privately owned and not open to the general public. Built right on the edge of the cliffs. Dunbeath Preservation Trust and the Trust has a large collection of material relating to Dunbeath Castle.
How to get there:
The village of Dunbeath is on the main A9 coast road, between Helmsdale and Lybster. Dunbeath Castle is located north-east of Dunbeath Mains, off the A9, east coast of Sutherland, 22 miles south-west of Wick, on the A99-A9, John o Groats – 40 miles Road; A99.
Contact:
Dunbeath Castle
Tel: 01593 731308
Fax: 01593 731241
E-mail: enqu…@dunbeathestate.com
Location:
Dunbeath Castle
Walled Gardens 20 miles south of Wick and 90 miles north of Inverness, Dunbeath
Caithness KW6 6EY
Scotland, UK
