Castles of Clan Keith

Dunnottar Castle
Dunnottar Castle, near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, was the principal seat of the Earls Marischal, the chiefs of Clan Keith. Perched on a dramatic cliff-top promontory overlooking the North Sea, it was held by the Keiths from the late 14th century. The castle played a central role in Scottish history, including the safekeeping of the Honours of Scotland during Cromwell’s invasion in 1651. Its ruins include a 14th-century keep, great hall, chapel, and defensive walls. Dunnottar remains one of Scotland’s most iconic castle ruins and a powerful symbol of Clan Keith.

Keith Marischal House
Keith Marischal House in East Lothian was the ancestral home of the Keiths before the family shifted their focus to the northeast. Originally a medieval castle, it was replaced by a 16th-century L-plan tower house built by the 5th Earl Marischal. The estate served as an early residence for the clan and reflects their status before they acquired Dunnottar. Later additions gave it a more baronial appearance. The house still stands as a private residence today.

Fetteresso Castle
Fetteresso Castle, located near Stonehaven, came into Keith hands in the early 14th century and became a secondary residence of the Earls Marischal. Originally a medieval tower, it was later transformed into a Palladian-style house in the 18th century. Though modernized, elements of the original defensive structure remain. The castle is privately owned and situated in a wooded estate. It illustrates the evolution of Keith residences from fortress to manor.

Hallforest Castle
Hallforest Castle, near Kintore in Aberdeenshire, was granted to Sir Robert de Keith by Robert the Bruce after the Battle of Bannockburn. Built in the early 14th century, it served as one of the clan’s earliest strongholds in the northeast. The tall, square tower once stood six stories high and featured thick defensive walls. It hosted Mary, Queen of Scots in 1562. The structure is now a roofless but impressive ruin.

Keith Hall (Caskieben)
Keith Hall, originally known as Caskieben, became the seat of the Earls of Kintore, a cadet branch of Clan Keith. Located near Inverurie, the Z-plan tower house was built in the 16th century and expanded into a country mansion. The estate passed to the Keiths through marriage and became the official residence of the current clan chief. Architectural elements from the original structure are still visible. Keith Hall remains privately owned.

Ackergill Tower
Ackergill Tower, north of Wick in Caithness, passed to the Keiths in the 15th century through marriage with the Cheynes. The five-story tower house sits on the edge of the North Sea and was involved in feuds with the Sinclairs and Gunns. A legend tells of a captive Gunn maiden leaping from the tower to her death. The Keiths lost control of the castle in the early 17th century. The tower has been restored and served as a hotel in modern times.

Inverugie Castle
Inverugie Castle, near Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, was acquired by the Keiths in the 14th century and served as a favorite residence of the Earls Marischal. A new stone castle was built in the 17th century, replacing an earlier motte-and-bailey structure. Though mostly ruined today, fragments of walls and earthworks remain. The castle stood near the River Ugie and oversaw a prosperous estate. Its historical importance is referenced in local tradition as “the Inverugie of the Keiths.”

Ravenscraig Castle (Craig of Inverugie)
Ravenscraig Castle, also known as the Craig of Inverugie, was built in the late 15th century by a cadet branch of the Keiths. Located near Peterhead, it featured an L-plan tower house with defensive earthworks and a round stair tower. It hosted royal visitors, including James VI in 1589. The castle eventually fell into disrepair and now exists as a ruin. Its remains overlook the River Ugie.

Boddam Castle
Boddam Castle was constructed in the late 16th century by the Keiths of Ludquharn, a cadet line. It stood near the harbor at Boddam on the Buchan coast, guarding a small bay south of Peterhead. Only foundations and scattered stones remain today. The castle formed part of a Keith defensive network in the region. Its coastal position made it useful for watch and trade.

Clackriach Castle
Clackriach Castle, near Maud in Aberdeenshire, was a small 16th-century tower house tied to the Keith estates in Buchan. Likely used by retainers or minor lairds, it featured a rectangular tower with vaulted chambers. Only a fragment of the structure remains. It served as a modest residence within the Earl Marischal’s landholdings. The ruin stands near the South Ugie Water.

Keith Inch Castle
Keith Inch Castle was built in 1589 by the 5th Earl Marischal on a small island forming part of Peterhead’s harbor. It served as a coastal residence and defensive bastion. The castle was seized during the Civil War and again during the Jacobite risings. After the Keiths’ estates were forfeited, it fell into disuse and was demolished in the 19th century. No visible remains survive today.

Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Keith

Struthers Castle
Struthers Castle in Fife was exchanged by Sir William Keith in 1382 for Dunnottar Castle. Previously part of the Keith holdings, it passed to the Lindsays after the deal. The ruins still stand near the village of Strathkinness. The exchange marked a pivotal shift in Clan Keith’s focus to the northeast. Struthers was briefly part of their early land base.

Huntly Castle
Huntly Castle in Aberdeenshire was the seat of Clan Gordon but shares a connection with Clan Keith through intermarriage. In the 14th century, a daughter of Sir William Keith married into the Gordon line, forging a powerful alliance. The families remained political allies for generations. Huntly Castle is renowned for its elaborate carvings and Renaissance facade. Though not Keith-owned, it represents their extended influence.

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, near Wick in Caithness, was the seat of Clan Sinclair and involved in the 16th-century feud with Clan Keith. In 1556, the Sinclairs laid siege to Ackergill Tower, forcing the Keiths to surrender. The conflict ended the Keiths’ tenure in Caithness. The castle’s dramatic ruins perch above sea cliffs. It stands as a monument to the clan warfare that shaped northern Scotland.

References

Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle records and listings.
Martin, C. (2016). The Keiths: Scotland’s Hereditary Marischals. Edinburgh: Clan Keith Society.
Simpson, W. D. (1931). Scottish Castles: An Introduction to the Castles of Scotland. Edinburgh: HMSO.
McKean, C. (2001). The Scottish Chateau. Stroud: Sutton Publishing.