Findlater Castle
- Oct 21
- 2 min read
Findlater Castle is a dramatic cliffside ruin on the Moray Firth coast, offering stunning views, rich medieval history, and a rugged walking experience ideal for adventurous visitors.
Highlights
Clifftop Fortress: Perched on a 50-foot-high outcrop, Findlater Castle was once a formidable stronghold with sheer drops on three sides and a drawbridge for defense.
Historic Drama: Linked to Alexander III, Mary Queen of Scots, and the Ogilvie and Gordon families, the castle played a role in 13th–16th century power struggles.
Doocot Nearby: A restored beehive-style dovecote (doocot) sits in a nearby field, once housing 700 nesting boxes for year-round food supply.
Scenic Coastal Views: The site overlooks the Moray Firth and is surrounded by dramatic cliffs, making it a photographer’s dream.
Practical Information
Location: Between Cullen and Sandend, Aberdeenshire. Accessible via the A98, with brown tourist signs guiding the way.
Parking: Small informal car park near Barnyards of Findlater farm. From there, follow grassy paths past the doocot to the castle viewpoint.
Access: Free to visit. The castle ruins are unstable admire from a safe distance.
Walking Route: A scenic coastal walk from Cullen via Sunnyside Beach offers a longer, picturesque approach.
Tips for visitors
Safety First: The ruins are highly unstable and sit on exposed cliffs view from designated paths only.
Footwear: Wear sturdy shoes; paths can be muddy and uneven.
Best Time to Visit: Spring to autumn for clearer skies and safer footing.
Ferghas' Adventures
Ferghas stood on the bluff, wind tugging at his sleeves as he gazed down at the shattered bones of Findlater Castle. The sea crashed below, fierce and endless, and he imagined the drawbridge rising, the Gordon banners snapping in the salt air. “Built for kings,” he muttered, “but the gulls rule it now.”
He wandered the grassy path, boots damp with morning dew, and paused by the old doocot round and quiet, like a forgotten crown. “Seven hundred nests,” he said, whistling low. “Enough for a feast or a rebellion.”
A kestrel hovered overhead, and Ferghas tipped his head. “If I were a coo with wings,” he grinned, “I’d claim this place by lunchtime.” He lingered a while longer, sketching the cliff’s curve in his mind, then turned inland, leaving the castle to its ghosts, the gulls, and the wind that never stopped whispering.
The views here where spectacular, as was the tasty grass 🐮