Noltland Castle — Attraction in Scotland

Noltland Castle is located near Pierowall on the island of Westray in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. It dates mainly to the later 16th century, although it was never fully completed. The castle is protected as a scheduled monument.

In 1560, Adam Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney, granted the lands of Noltland to his brother-in-law Gilbert Balfour, who built the castle. Balfour was Master of the Royal Household to Mary, Queen of Scots, and was involved in the plot to kill her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. After Mary's deposition and exile, he continued to support the queen. Noltland was seized by Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney, an opponent of Mary's supporters, but he was forced to hand it back to Balfour in the early 1570s. Balfour was executed in Sweden in 1576, and, in 1598, the castle was again seized by the Earl of Orkney (now Patrick Stewart, son of Robert). By 1606, the castle had been restored to the Balfours once more, when it was sold to Sir John Arnot, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, who later became Sheriff of Orkney.

During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in 1650, Royalist officers occupied the castle after their defeat at the Battle of Carbisdale. Local Covenanters captured and burned the castle. By 1881, it was described as a ruin, and was given into state care by the Balfour family in 1911. it is now maintained by Historic Scotland.

The castle is built in the Z-plan form, comprising a rectangular main block with towers at opposite corners. A courtyard was added to the south in the 17th century. The castle is notable for its defensive architecture, unusual for the period, including a large number of shot holes. The large staircase has been compared to the stair at Fyvie Castle in...

A fine example of a medieval Lords residence. Imposing , well defended with the 71 musket holes ready for attack. The spiral staircase is magnificent. The kitchen downstairs is vast with a huge fireplace, the centre of the daily hubbub .having entered the dark doorway into the hall one becomes aware of lingering traces of life. There is a strange ambience not threatening just intense. A local artist has complained of a presence looking over his shoulder whilst painting the staircase. Rumours abound of a large black dog haunting the kitchen. I myself have stood in the laird's bedroom and felt a disconcerting feeling of being watched. It's marvellous to imagine what went on. There are reports of medieval music and lights upstairs. Fabulous. Well worth a visit and it's free along with the parking. I will continue to visit and hope to enjoy new...

"At Noltland on Westray, Balfour built one of the most impressive castles in the Orkney Islands. It is situated above the Bay of Pierowall, was built in the 1560s. It is notable for an unusually large spiral staircase, second only to Fyvie Castle, while its triple tiers of gunloops are without parallel in Scotland, if not Europe"

Ample parking, well maintained and looked after. Completely empty when we visited. Great...