Dunnottar Castle History and Local Area
The history of the Dunnottar Castle and the rock it resides on, isn’t just simply a hill with a building; the actual land itself houses very small bit significant golden nuggets, that sky rocket interest.
The castle in Scotland has a lot potential for many forms of inspiration, and history to examine.
440 Million Years ago
The “pudding stone” is what the blend of cemented rocks and pebbles are called for this hill, and rose to the surface during the Silurian Period. The matter bonded these rock so strongly, that even the space between pebbles doesn’t falter, but instead the pebbles themselves split.
This shows the strength of this land in which Dunnottar sits on, as no matter what epoch may have occured, it stands tall over the seas in which it came from.
5000 BC
There has been evidence that discovered the oldest Pict fort, living on the sea stack of dunnicaer had been established between 5,000 BC to 700 AD. The carbon dating's not perfect, but it’s the oldest they managed to find.
This is immensely impressive as an establishment was made so long ago.
400 AD
Saint Ninian arrives, spreading his faith to the Picts of Dunnottar, and establishing his faith on the same ground as the castle.
900 AD
King Donald the second was killed by Vikings that invaded
1276 AD
Although not much of it remains today, William Wishart (the Bishop of Saint Andrews) sets a stone chapel on the rock of Dunnottar.
1297
William Wallace was a warrior who showed no mercy to the English soldiers he fought against (as England invaded). When he defeated an English garrison, reclaiming Scottish land, he torched the chapel they took refuge in and drove others off the cliff, all on Dunnottar.
1336
In the second war of independence, the English managed to secure control of Dunnottar castle with the help of ‘the hammer of the Scots’ Edward Balloil, for bid over the Scottish throne.
1393
The first stone castle at Dunnottar named ‘the Keep’ was constructed by Sir William Keith, Great Marischal of Scotland.
1526
Mary Queen of Scots, visited the castle, but stayed for 2 nights, 2 years later ion the month of September.
1593
George Keith, who was the 5th earl of Marischal , establishes more buildings around the land of Dunnottar, even adding a Lion’s den to the castle. Keith also founded in the city of Aberdeen, the Marischal College. This was Scotland’s second civic universities, during their post medieval time, only second to University of Edinborough.
1645
James Graham’s army, 1st Marquess of Montrose, had he and his army charge into a civil war with the 7th earl marischal, William Keith, via a failed attempts of negotiation, which lead to the baroness Stonehaven and Dunnottar.
1651–52
The castle of Dunnottar played an important royal safe keeping role; during the war of the 3 nations, being England, Scotland and Ireland, the guest of the 7th earl marischal, King Charles 2nd, came to Dunnottar. This visit however caught the attention and set off an invasion by Oliver Cromwell, and his parliamentary army. Though, the castle of Duttonattar acted as a safe house for the crown jewels and the Honours of Scotland.
Locations
Dunnottar Castle is located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Stone heaven: The local harbour town with beaches, open air swimming pools, and a paddle boarding tour around the coastline, discovering caves, waterfalls, and cliffs. The harbour also has shops and eateries.
Aberdeenshire & the North East: Beaches and coastal cliffs to the east, with the west housing rolling hills, giant mountains and farmlands.
Dunecht Estates: 50,000 acres of land, where you can fish on two beats, which is of the River Dee.
References
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE. (n.d, n.d n.d). Local Area. Retrieved Octover 20, 2021, from DUNNOTTAR CASTLE: https://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/local-area
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE. (n.d, n.d n.d). History. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from DUNNOTTAR CASTLE: https://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/history
