Duffus Castle — Attraction in Scotland

We used to come here a lot when the kids were younger and I thought I would have already made a post about Duffus Castle! The entrance bridge by the info board / carpark is closed so look left and walk through the smaller gate which takes you over the water and onto the lovely cobbled path up to the keep instead of trying to open the large gate. There's the remains of a 15th century clay and stone oven housed on the left which really could do with some new perspex on the 'lid' to be able to see it better - it's great fun to follow the bailey wall around and imagine the building that once stood within. The novelty of course is the subsided portion of the castle which includes a latrine whuch we always fondly called the 'cowpit lavvy' when the kids were little and they loved to run inside to look through the wee window. There's been an attempt to fence it off but anarchy prevails and it's been trampled so there is still access. The archway which housed the portcullis is a nice feature, right by the prison pit that my kids always loved to go into lol. There's an interesting stone inside the doorway to the main keep which reads JR WEST (A?)G (R?)OSS ..82 but I can't find any information on it. The original castle was destroyed then rebuilt in stone during the 1300s but this inscription does not fit with the style of that time, it is most definitely newer than that! Some great features to explore here and many a bairn has rolled an Easter egg down the motte! No entry fee for this one and a great new addition - the coffee hut by the carpark. Get there before 4pm or...

Came here on a sunny afternoon. Only two cars were parked in the small visitors parking (free). Just a few steps away you'll find the remains of the Duffus castle, sitting on a mound.

Duffus Castle was built by a Flemish man named Freskin, who came to Scotland in the first half of the 1100s. In about 1270, the castle passed to Sir Reginald Cheyne the Elder, Lord of Inverugie. He probably built the square stone keep on top of the motte, and the curtain wall encircling the bailey. It was becoming a stronghold. In the 1300s it was beginning to slip down the mound. At last Viscount Dundee, leader of the first Jacobite Rising, dined in the castle as a guest of James, Lord Duffus in 1689, prior to his victory against King William II’s government forces at Killiecrankie. Soon later the castle fell into decay. And much of it is gone nowadays. But some rooms and walls are still standing. It's a great reminder of what was once has been here.

You can walk freely around the grounds and explore most parts of the remains. There's also a small circular walk around the grounds. Dogs are welcome here as well.

It's a nice little ruin to visit. Not the biggest, not the most famous. But surely a worth a visit - especially if you enjoy something off the beaten path. No entrance fee, no parking fee. There's a coffee shop just at the parking lot if you need a boost of energy...

Lovely place to visit, has signs all over with information. Is quite steep and some bits feel a little unsafe. Part of the castle is fenced off at the moment due to erosion. Sadly there was a bit of litter left, we did pick this up (including 2 broken badminton rackets) and dispose of them. Generally the place was clean, the grass is long in the grounds of the castle just now but we kept to the paths made in the long grass, there was rubbish in the wet ditch but it wasn't accessible. We didn't walk around the right side of the castle as it is very steep.

The only small complaint I would have it the raf seemed to be running an exercise and the planes were very loud which upset my son. This lasted our entire visit. We had a picnic beside our car in the car park and it was fantastic. We had visits from baby frogs. There is also a little coffee trailer (permanent) beside the car park now with picnic benches and its a very nice addition with...