Brims Castle facts for kids

Brims Castle is a ruined stone building from the 1500s. It's a type of castle called an L-plan tower house, which means it's shaped like the letter 'L' from above. You can find it on Brims Ness, a piece of land sticking out into the sea in the Highland region of Scotland. It's located south of the Pentland Firth, about 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Thurso.

History of Brims Castle

This castle was first owned by the Clan Sinclair, a powerful Scottish family. Over time, it was passed down to different parts of the Sinclair family. People lived in Brims Castle until after 1970.

By the late 1900s, it was used as part of a nearby farm. However, since then, the castle has fallen into disrepair and is now quite ruined and unsafe.

What Brims Castle Looks Like

Brims Ness is a promontory, which means it's a high piece of land that sticks out into the sea. The castle built on it had three main floors and a small attic space called a garret.

Originally, there was a square tower for stairs with a lookout tower on top. But this was later changed to a sloped roof. The main entrance is where the castle's two parts meet, and it has a round, open turret (a small tower) above it. To the north of the castle, there used to be a courtyard. This area is now filled with newer buildings. The courtyard once had a special gate that led to the sea, which might have had a drawbridge.

To get inside the castle, people used a wooden staircase that could be moved. This stair led to the first floor. The main room, called the Hall, was on this first floor. From the Hall, a private stair led down to the vaulted (meaning it had an arched ceiling) basement. It's believed there was a bedroom on each of the upper floors. People also think that there were simple bedrooms and the kitchen in the courtyard area.

The land around the castle also has an old burial ground and the ruins of a small church, which was dedicated to a saint named St John.

Castle Legends

Like many old castles, Brims Castle has a ghost story! People say that a "white lady" haunts the building. This ghost is believed to be the daughter of James Sinclair of Uttersquoy.

See also

In Spanish: Castillo Brims para niños