Castles of Clan Gordon
Huntly Castle
Huntly Castle was the ancestral seat of the Chiefs of Clan Gordon for over five centuries. Originally known as Strathbogie, the castle was renamed Huntly in the early 16th century and served as a powerful northern stronghold. Located in the town of Huntly, Aberdeenshire, it features richly carved stonework, grand fireplaces, and heraldic decoration. The castle was a site of royal visits, political intrigue, and was twice destroyed and rebuilt. Though now a ruin, it remains one of Scotland’s most historically and architecturally significant castles.
Gordon Castle (Moray)
Gordon Castle in Moray became the principal residence of the Dukes of Gordon, chiefs of Clan Gordon, in the 18th century. Built around a medieval tower known as the Bog of Gight, it was expanded into a massive classical mansion with one of the longest façades in Scotland. Located near Fochabers, the castle played host to dignitaries, including Robert Burns. Most of the mansion was demolished in the 20th century, but parts of the original structure and gardens remain. It stands as a symbol of the clan’s ducal grandeur.
Aboyne Castle
Aboyne Castle, near the village of Aboyne in Aberdeenshire, has been held by the Gordons since the mid-15th century. Through marriage into the Keith family, the estate passed to Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly. The castle has undergone several renovations and expansions, evolving from a medieval stronghold into a stately home. It remains the private residence of the Marquess of Huntly, the current chief of Clan Gordon. Though not open to the public, its legacy is central to the clan’s history.
Abergeldie Castle
Abergeldie Castle, west of Ballater in Aberdeenshire, was built around 1550 and held by the Gordons of Abergeldie, a cadet branch of the clan. The four-story tower house guarded a strategic approach to Balmoral and was involved in regional feuds and royal conflicts. The castle was burned during a Gordon feud in 1592 but rebuilt and continued as a family seat. In the 19th century, it was leased by the British Royal Family for use during hunting seasons. It remains one of the best-preserved tower houses of its period.
Glenbuchat Castle
Glenbuchat Castle in Strathdon was built in 1590 by John Gordon of Cairnbarrow to celebrate his marriage. The castle served as a base for Gordon involvement in the 1594 rebellion against King James VI and was forfeited briefly. It is a classic Z-plan tower house situated on a hillside with commanding views. Abandoned by the mid-18th century, it has since become a well-preserved ruin. The castle is managed by Historic Environment Scotland and open to visitors.
Kenmure Castle
Kenmure Castle, near New Galloway in Galloway, was the seat of the Gordons of Lochinvar, later Viscounts of Kenmure. The castle played a role in supporting Mary, Queen of Scots, and King Charles I during the civil wars. It was torched several times for these loyalties and later restored in the 19th century. Though abandoned in the 20th century, the structure still reflects the clan’s influence in southwest Scotland. Its ruins stand on a bluff above Loch Ken.
Auchindoun Castle
Auchindoun Castle near Dufftown was acquired by the Gordons in the 16th century and served as the seat of the Gordons of Auchindoun. Adam Gordon of Auchindoun was involved in a notorious feud with the Forbes family, culminating in the burning of Corgarff Castle. Auchindoun was sacked in 1592 and later abandoned. The hilltop ruin remains a dramatic presence in the landscape. Its round towers and courtyard walls reflect its former strength.
Gight Castle
Gight Castle, near Methlick in Aberdeenshire, was home to the Gordons of Gight and later connected to the poet Lord Byron through his mother, Catherine Gordon. Built in the 1570s, it was a classic tower house with thick walls and a vaulted basement. The castle was sold due to family debts and fell into ruin in the 18th century. Surrounded by legends of ghosts and hidden treasure, Gight remains a place of romantic interest. It is one of the more mysterious Gordon holdings.
Haddo House
Haddo House, near Ellon in Aberdeenshire, was built in 1732 for the Gordon family of Haddo, later the Earls of Aberdeen. The original medieval fortress on the site was destroyed during the Civil War. The present Palladian mansion, designed by William Adam, reflects 18th-century taste and elegance. It was home to several prominent political figures, including a Prime Minister. The estate is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
Fyvie Castle
Fyvie Castle, located in Aberdeenshire, came into Gordon hands in 1733 when it was purchased by the Gordon Earls of Aberdeen. Originally a royal stronghold, the castle evolved into a grand baronial mansion with towers representing each of its five major owners. The Gordon Tower is one of its architectural highlights. The castle contains lavish interiors and a renowned portrait collection. Though no longer owned by the family, it showcases their wealth and cultural patronage.
Beldorney Castle
Beldorney Castle near Glass was built by George Gordon in the mid-16th century. It features an L-plan design and was enlarged in the 17th century. The Gordons held the property for generations, adding mural paintings and decorative elements inside. It later passed to another Gordon branch in the 18th century. Today, it is a fine example of a smaller laird’s residence from the period.
Cluny Castle
Cluny Castle, near Monymusk in Aberdeenshire, was built in 1604 and later expanded by the Gordons in the 19th century. Three separate Gordon families held the castle over time, reinforcing its importance in clan history. The castle sheltered Jacobite fugitives and remained a stronghold of Gordon support. It was partially damaged by fire in 1926 but restored and now serves as a private estate and wedding venue. Its architecture blends 17th-century roots with Victorian baronial grandeur.
Lochinvar Castle
Lochinvar Castle, once located on an island in Lochinvar in Kirkcudbrightshire, was the original seat of the Gordons of Lochinvar. The family gained fame during the reign of James VI and inspired the romantic figure “Young Lochinvar” in Sir Walter Scott’s poetry. The castle was modest but well-positioned for defense and control of the surrounding area. It was submerged in the 20th century due to the creation of a reservoir. Its legacy lives on through literature and local history.
Original Gordon Castle (Berwickshire)
The original Gordon Castle stood near the village of Gordon in the Scottish Borders and was held by the family before their move north. It served as the base for the family when they first rose to prominence in the 12th and 13th centuries. From this base, the Gordons supported Robert the Bruce and were rewarded with land in Aberdeenshire. The site is now lost, with no surviving ruins. It remains important as the clan’s place of origin.
Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Gordon
Corgarff Castle
Corgarff Castle in Strathdon was the site of a tragic 1571 massacre during a Gordon-Forbes feud. Adam Gordon of Auchindoun burned the tower, killing Margaret Campbell and members of the Forbes household. Later, the government converted the site into a military barracks with a star-shaped defensive wall. Though not a Gordon residence, it is forever linked to the clan’s violent 16th-century feuds. Today, the castle is maintained by Historic Scotland and open to the public.
Druminnor Castle
Druminnor Castle, seat of Clan Forbes, was involved in a notorious episode of treachery when 20 Gordons were murdered during a feast in 1571. The event reignited a brutal cycle of retaliation. Though not held by the Gordons, it became a battleground in their bitter feud with the Forbeses. The 15th-century tower remains part of a private home today. Its history serves as a stark reminder of clan rivalries.
Frendraught Castle
Frendraught Castle near Huntly was the site of the infamous 1630 “Fire of Frendraught,” where several Gordon guests died in a suspicious blaze. The event sparked a major feud between the Gordons and the Crichtons. The original castle is mostly gone, but the story lives on in songs and ballads. It marks one of the most tragic chapters in Gordon lore. Its legacy influenced clan relations for generations.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland’s royal fortress, was briefly defended by the Duke of Gordon during the 1689 Jacobite rising. As governor, George Gordon held out against Williamite forces for over three months before surrendering. Though not owned by the clan, the stand represented the Gordons’ loyalty to King James VII. The episode is a celebrated moment in Gordon history. The castle remains one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks.
Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle in Sutherland became associated with Clan Gordon through the marriage of Adam Gordon to the heiress of the Sutherland earldom in 1515. For generations, the Earls of Sutherland were Gordons by blood, and the clan extended its reach into the far north. The present castle, redesigned in the 19th century, resembles a French château. While a Sutherland seat, it represents the power gained through Gordon alliances. It remains one of Scotland’s most majestic stately homes.
Greenknowe Tower
Greenknowe Tower, near the village of Gordon in the Borders, was built by the Setons in 1581 on lands formerly held by the Gordons. The tower’s location and name reflect its Gordon heritage. Though the family no longer lived there, the estate passed into Seton hands via marriage to a Gordon heiress. The structure includes gunloops, a vaulted basement, and corbelled turrets. It is now a well-preserved ruin under Historic Scotland.
References
Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
MacGibbon, D., & Ross, T. (1887). The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland (Vols. 1–5). Edinburgh: David Douglas.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle records and listings.
Simpson, W. D. (1931). Scottish Castles: An Introduction to the Castles of Scotland. Edinburgh: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
Groome, F. H. (1882). Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland. Edinburgh: Thomas C. Jack.
Fraser, W. (1884). The Chiefs of Grant. Edinburgh: Spottiswoode.
Burnett, C. J. (1997). The Gordons: Highland Warriors, Lowland Gentlemen. Aberdeen: Heritage Books.