| Dunnottar Castle has the most impressive | | | | Keith, youngest son of the Earl, became |
| location of any castle in Scotland. | | | | responsible for these items as |
| Surrounded on three sides by sheer | | | | Cromwell's English neared the rock. They |
| cliffs , the castle was virtually | | | | were smuggled out of the castle hidden |
| impregnable . It is 2 miles south of | | | | in the skirts of a female visitor to the |
| Stonehaven and about 15 miles from | | | | castrle ans hiden under the bed of a |
| Aberdeen on the east coast of Scotland . | | | | local minister . In May of 1652, |
| The tower house was built at the end of | | | | Dunnottar, under siege, remained the |
| the 14th century by Sir William Keith , | | | | last of Scotland's strongholds still |
| Great Marischal of Scotland. Other | | | | flying the flag. John Keith was |
| buildings were added later on by the | | | | generouslyy rewarded by King Charles |
| fifth Earl Marischal, including a | | | | .Dunnottar was also notorious from its |
| retainers' barracks, a chapel, priest's | | | | use as a state prison. In 1685 it housed |
| house , stables and a graveyard . | | | | 167 men and women kept in a dark cellar. |
| William Wallace captured the castle | | | | located under the Earl's bedrooms, was |
| during the Wars of Independence. English | | | | later called the "Whig's Vault". A |
| troops occupied a stockade on the rock | | | | memorial to the dead (later erected in |
| in 1297, but it was captured by William | | | | the courtyard) is . Other prisoners |
| Wallace, who burned the church and the | | | | included a James Keith who escaped (in |
| English garrison inside. Later on , at | | | | 1629). Accused Jacobites from Aberdeen |
| the start of the 14th century , English | | | | of the late 1600's, such as George |
| soldiers recaptured the rock which was | | | | Liddel, professor of Mathematics from |
| burned in 1336. David II then gave the | | | | Marischal College, were brought to |
| rock to William, Earl of Sutherland, so | | | | Dunnottar's dungeons. It all ended after |
| he could build a castle.Dunnottar came | | | | the Stewart failure in 1716. The York |
| into the possession of Sir William | | | | Buildings Company bought the castle and |
| Keith-Marischal at the end of the 14th | | | | stripped it , and sold its roofs, floors |
| century. He soon began construction of a | | | | and everything of value inside it . The |
| fortalice , the keep and other early | | | | 9th Earl Marischal regained possession |
| structures that still exist. William was | | | | of the castle , he never visited it or |
| excommunicated by the Bishop of St. | | | | made any attempt to rebuild it .In 1766 |
| Andrews for building a castle on "sacred | | | | Alexander Keith bought it but did |
| soil", and later reinstated for a price. | | | | nothing with the buildings. In 1925 some |
| Over the years Dunnottar became a major | | | | restoration was arranged by Lady |
| Scottish stronghold. King James IV was | | | | Cowdray. The castle is is a ruin , |
| lavishly entertained there in 1504. | | | | albeit a spectacular one.Article by |
| Queen Mary visited after the battle of | | | | writer and photographer David Rankin. 10 |
| Corrichie in 1562, and again in 1564. | | | | years experience writing and |
| James VI stayed at the castle on several | | | | photographing Scotland. David's website |
| occasions, and held a Privy Council | | | | features 10 pictures of Dunnottar Castle |
| there. King Charles II stayed at | | | | and 20 other Scottish castles. David |
| Dunnottar several times, during wars | | | | supplies stock photography in digital |
| with England, and deposited the regalia | | | | format and prints of Scottish castles |
| of Scotland for safe keeping. John | | | | and landscapes. |