Scotland · Ruin
Pitsligo Castle
Pitsligo Castle is a ruined Scottish castle half a mile east of Rosehearty in Aberdeenshire. The remains include an outer court wall with an arched gateway, a large flanking drum tower at the north‑east angle, a surviving stair tower, and the footprint of the main keep. It is a scheduled monument with visible armorial plaques and nearby walled garden and enclosures.
Its prime
1665
Today
Ruin
As it stood in 1665
The shape it held in its prime.
Low, irregular coursed-rubble curtain walls punctuated by a central arched gateway, with small rectangular and arrow-slit openings and scattered armorial plaques. To the north-east a tall, nearly square drum tower of thick masonry rises above the curtain, its top turf-covered; a stair tower stands at the north-east corner. The main keep is largely reduced so the profile is broken and stepped. Forecourt lawn and a straight gravel approach path lead to the gateway; stone is grey with some reddish dressings around openings.
Its story
The story of Pitsligo Castle.
Pitsligo Castle stands ruined half a mile east of Rosehearty — one of the nine castles W. Douglas Simpson called the castles of the Knuckle, after the rocky headland of North-East Aberdeenshire. It was modified in the 1570s by the Forbes of Druminnor, and at the north-east angle of the courtyard the Frasers of Philorth built a tall flanking drum tower with walls nine feet thick.
The remains take in an outer court wall with an arched gateway, a surviving stair tower and the footprint of the main keep, with armorial plaques still visible and a walled garden and enclosures nearby. Historic Environment Scotland protects the site as a scheduled monument.
Step inside
9 places to explore in 1665.
The record describes 9 distinct spots at Pitsligo Castle — including 2 interiors: courtyard doorway with royal arms, vaulted interior of the main keep (ground storey). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Pitsligo Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1665 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Castle to Explore →Whose castle
Clans who held Pitsligo Castle.
The families that held Pitsligo Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
