Blairfindy Castle

May 5

2 min read

Blairfindy Castle is a late‑1500s L‑plan tower house built for the Gordon family and later used as a hunting seat by the Earls of Huntly. Burned after the Jacobite rising of 1745 and left derelict for centuries, it has now been carefully conserved, allowing visitors to step inside its atmospheric stone shell. Set above the River Livet and surrounded by rolling hills, it’s a quiet, evocative stop full of history and Highland character

Highlights

16th‑century L‑plan tower house — completed around 1586 for John Gordon, with a corbelled turret and defensive layout.
Huntly family hunting seat — used by the powerful Earls of Huntly during the late 1500s and early 1600s.
Battle of Glenlivet connection (1594) — the castle stands close to the battlefield where Huntly defeated Argyll’s larger force.
Jacobite history — burned by government troops in 1746 after Culloden.
Recent conservation (2019–2021) — stabilised, made safe, and reopened with new access paths and interpretation.
Peaceful Glenlivet setting — surrounded by hills, woodland, and estate walking routes.

Practical Information

Location: Near Glenlivet; closest parking at The Glenlivet Distillery, with a waymarked ½‑mile path to the castle.
Accessibility: Two disabled parking spaces are available directly at the castle; interior accessible on a free‑flow basis. (probably poor for wheelchair)
Opening: Open year‑round; unmanned site.
Facilities: No toilets or café at the castle; facilities available at the distillery.
Terrain: Short walk on a good path; interior floors are uneven — care required.

Tips for visitors

Start at Glenlivet Distillery — the signed path is easy, scenic, and makes parking simple.
Wear sturdy shoes — the interior and surrounding ground can be uneven.
Pair with Drumin Castle or the Battle of Glenlivet walk for a full historic day out.
Visit early or late for the most atmospheric light and quietest experience.
Don’t climb the walls — the structure is stabilised but still a ruin.

Follow me to see where to go

Ferghas' Adventures

Ferghas the Highland Coo padded up the gentle path toward Blairfindy Castle, his ears flicking as the great L‑shaped tower rose from the hillside like a silent guardian of Glenlivet. The stones were warm in the afternoon sun, and as he stepped through the arched doorway, the air shifted — cool, echoing, full of old stories. Ferghas explored the shadowy corners, peered up at the corbelled turret, and imagined the Gordon hunters who once prepared for grand feasts here. Then a soft glimmer caught his eye: a tiny silver thistle wedged between two stones, left behind by someone long ago. With a proud swish of his tail, Ferghas tucked it into his satchel, knowing Blairfindy had just gifted him the first clue in a brand‑new Highland quest.