Scottish Castles Association

Kindrochit Castle - the first castle to be built at Braemar

An ancient ruin in Royal Deeside is to e given a new lease of life.

Aberdeenshire Council and Cairngorms National Park Authority have joined together to fund conservation work at Kindrochit Castle - the first castle to be built at Braemar.

While some of the monument's walls still stand , rubble has been used for other buildings or removed to build roads.

It is hoped the project to stabilise the walls and install floodlights in the grounds will help it rival nearby Braemar and Balmoral castles as a tourist attraction.

The foundations of Kindrochit were laid between 1067 and 1093 by King Malcolm III of Scotland. By 1390 it was the fifth largest castle in the country. By the 17th century the plague had struck and the castle was destroyed by a cannon.

Urquhart Stonemasonry Ltd of Tarland, has been contracted to do the work which begins this month.

A drop-in event is being held in the village hall at Braemar to show residents what is involved. Chairman of the council's infrastructure services committee, Councilor Peter Argyle, said, "Kindrochit Castle has been a ruin for a great many years.

We are delighted that this conservation project has received the funding it needs to conserve this ancient but hugely important building.

It is these projects that do so much to keep Aberdeenshire's history and heritage alive, as well as supporting our vital tourism industry by helping to attract tourists to this beautiful area."

Source: Press and Journal