Lonmay Castle facts for kids

The Castle of Lonmay was an old castle in Scotland, located in a region called Buchan. It was found near Netherton of Lonmay, which is north of Loch of Strathbeg. This castle is not in the modern village of Lonmay, which is about 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles) away. An expert named W. Douglas Simpson once called it one of the "nine castles of the Knuckle." This name refers to the rocky coastline in the northeast part of Aberdeenshire.

What Was the Castle of Lonmay?

The Castle of Lonmay was built a very long time ago, in the 13th century. This means it was built sometime between the years 1201 and 1300. It was the home of an important family known as the Clan Fraser.

How Was the Castle Built?

Experts think the castle "may have been a motte." A motte is a type of castle where a wooden or stone building stands on a raised earth mound. This mound would have been surrounded by a ditch. Today, there is almost nothing left of the Castle of Lonmay. Any small parts that remain are buried under sand dunes. These dunes are always moving and have covered the old castle site over many years.

Why Was the Castle Important?

The Castle of Lonmay played a key role in protecting the area. It guarded the northern side of an estuary. An estuary is where a river meets the sea. This estuary used to flow into a place called Strathbeg Bay.

Protecting the Coastline

Around the year 1720, the estuary closed off and became Loch of Strathbeg. The castle helped keep this important waterway safe. On the southern side of this estuary, there was a harbor called Starny Keppie and a village named Rattray. This southern shore was protected by another castle, the Castle of Rattray. So, both castles worked together to guard the entrance to the bay.

What Happened to the Castle?

Today, the remains of the castle are found in the "Links," which are sandy areas near the sea. However, you won't see many stones. This is because "all the stones have been carried off." People used the stones from the old castle to build farmhouses nearby. Because of this, almost all the stories and information about the castle have been lost over time. Only its name remains.