Cowie Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cowie Castle |
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Remains of Cowie Castle
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| Official name: Castle of Cowie | |
| Designated | 13 June 2001 |
| Reference no. | SM9742 |
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Cowie Castle is an old castle that's now a ruin in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It sits at the northern end of Stonehaven, right on the North Sea coast. Just south of the castle, the Cowie Bridge crosses the Cowie Water. People lived in this area a very long time ago, even during the Iron Age, which we know from old stone circles called ring cairns found nearby.
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Why Was Cowie Castle Important?
Cowie Castle was built in a really important spot! It helped control who could travel along the coast by land and by sea.
Controlling Ancient Roads
A very old path called the Causey Mounth was used over 900 years ago. It connected the coast near Stonehaven to the River Dee near Aberdeen. Cowie Castle, along with Dunnottar Castle, helped guard this important route during the Middle Ages. Cowie Castle, being at the north of Stonehaven, was especially good at watching all the movement along the coast to the north.
Another old path, the Elsick Mounth, was also very important. Even the Romans used it when they explored northern Scotland! Cowie Castle was near the southern end of this path too, making its location even more strategic.
Other Nearby Castles and Sites
There are other interesting castles close to Cowie Castle. To the south, you can find the ruined Dunnottar Castle. To the southwest is Fetteresso Castle, and to the north is Muchalls Castle.
Right next to Cowie Castle, there are also the ruins of the Chapel of St. Mary and St. Nathalan. It's said that a saint named St. Nathalan started this chapel a long time ago.
What's Left of Cowie Castle Today?
People think Cowie Castle might have been a royal hunting lodge or a place where kings and queens stayed when they traveled through Scotland. Today, only a small part of the castle's stone walls remains. It is protected as a "scheduled monument," which means it's an important historical site that needs to be preserved.
