Dunnotar Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland May 2008

© 2008 Above Tree Line Images

Dunnotar Castle stands on a rocky prominence overlooking the North Sea from cliffs just south of Aberdeen. The site is believed to have been occupied as early as 5000 B.C. by the Picts. The name Dunnotar is believed to be a derivation of the Pict word Dun meaning a place of strength. Dunnotar has been involved in may significant figures and events in Scottish history including St. Ninian, William Wallace, the struggle of the Scots to separate church and state,and the Jacobite uprising. It has been built, enhanced, destroyed, and rebuilt by its owners which included the Earls Marischals from the 14th to 16th centuries. Today it has been rebuilt and is owned by the Cowdray family.