Gartly Castle facts for kids
Gartly Castle was a historic castle from the 1400s in Scotland. It was located about one mile northeast of Gartly, a small village in Aberdeenshire. It was also about four miles south of Huntly, near the River Bogie. This old castle played a small part in Scottish history, even hosting a queen! Today, sadly, there are no remains left of Gartly Castle.
Quick facts for kids Gartly Castle |
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 Gartly Castle
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| Coordinates | 57°23′23″N 2°46′37″W / 57.3897°N 2.7770°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 12th or 13th century |
History of Gartly Castle
The Barclay family owned the land where Gartly Castle stood for a very long time. They were the owners from the 1100s all the way to the 1500s.
A famous visitor to the castle was Mary, Queen of Scots. She stayed here in October 1562. This was just before she defeated the Gordon family at the Battle of Corrichie.
Sadly, the castle ruins were taken down in 1975. The very last parts of the castle were removed by 1982. Now, there is nothing left to see of Gartly Castle.
What Gartly Castle Looked Like
Today, you won't find any trace of Gartly Castle. It once had a keep, which is a strong, central tower. Keeps were often the safest part of a castle.
In 1780, a traveler named Thomas Pennant heard about the castle. He was told it was "an old building" on a small hill. It was also surrounded by a deep ditch. The castle was a square tower. One side had fallen down, showing strong, arched rooms inside.
Gartly Castle was built on a natural mound. This mound was about 17 meters (about 56 feet) wide. It was also up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) high. There was a ditch around the south, east, and west sides of the mound. This ditch would have helped protect the castle.
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