Kindrochit Castle facts for kids
Kindrochit Castle is an old, ruined castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was built a long time ago, in the 1300s. You can find it near Braemar, right by the Clunie Water. This river flows into the River Dee. The castle ruins are now a special protected site.
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Kindrochit Castle: A Royal Ruin
Why Was Kindrochit Castle Built?
Kindrochit Castle was a favorite spot for King Robert II of Scotland. He used it as a hunting lodge. A hunting lodge is a place where kings and nobles would stay when they went hunting. King Robert II often signed important papers here between 1371 and 1388.
Later, in 1390, his son, King Robert III, gave permission for a new tower to be built. This tower was to be built on the same spot.
What Does Kindrochit Castle Look Like Now?
Today, you can mostly see the ground floor of the old tower. It's about 19.3 meters long and 13 meters wide. That's roughly the size of a small basketball court!
In the 1920s, people dug up parts of the castle. They found the remains of an even older royal building. This building had a large hall, about 30 meters long and 9 meters wide. It also had square towers at each corner.
Kindrochit Castle Through History
In 1618, a poet named John Taylor visited the castle. He was on a trip called his Pennyles Pilgrimage. John Erskine, the Earl of Mar, showed him the ruins.
The Earl told Taylor that Malcolm Canmore had built the castle. Malcolm Canmore was a Scottish king from the 1000s. Taylor was very impressed by the castle. He said he didn't see another house for the next 12 days of his journey!
Why Was Kindrochit Castle Important?
Experts believe Kindrochit Castle was built in a very smart place. It was near an old path called the Elsick Mounth. This path was important for crossing the Grampian Mountains. Other castles like Kildrummy Castle and Durris Castle were also built along this important route.
