Building record MAB30015 - CAIRNBULG CASTLE

Cairnbulg Castle is built on a mound which was probably originally a motte, subsequently cut down into a platform for the existing stone buildings.

Cairnbulg Castle is built on a mound which was probably originally an Early Medieval motte, subsequently cut down into a platform for the existing stone buildings. The current structure probably dates to the mid-13th Century. Originally named Philorth, it belonged to the Comyns, but was confiscated and given by Bruce to John Ross, son of the Earl of Ross, in 1306. It came by marriage into the hands of Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie in 1375. In 1615, the castle was sold to pay of debts and was renamed Cairnbulg. The castle was abandoned and the linking building removed in 1799. Between 1896-1897 the castle was extensively restored by Mr. John Duthie and is now inhabited. Further restoration works were undertaken between 1900-1951.

The castle consists of a large and strong keep, perhaps mid-13th Century to 15th Century, with a vaulted basement and hall. The floor above the hall is particularly interesting in that it has, in the southwest angle, a mural chamber from which descends a small turnpike stair to a pit or prison in the thickness of the masonry. The upper floors were added in the 15th Century, with the smaller, circular tower added and linked to the main building in 1545.

A later long house known as the 'low work' is attached to the castle's southeast corner. This in turn connects with a 16th Century round tower at the low work's southeast corner. This tower is a storey lower than the keep and was probably originally a flanking tower. It has a dome-vaulted basement with apertures for three wide splayed gun loops. When restored, the two halves were repaired and roofed and a new building, embodying the remnants of the old walls, was erected between them. The whole building is now harled.

To the south of the castle the historic OS maps show a large walled garden. A watching brief in 1998 within the walled garden during topsoil stripping for a tennis court recorded no archaeological features or artefacts.

LEITH-HAY, A, 1849, CASTELLATED ARCHITECTURE OF ABERDEENSHIRE, pp 105-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1052.

SCOTT, D, 1887, GRASS OF PARNASSUS FROM THE BENTS O’BUCHAN , 18, illus (Bibliographic reference). SAB1620.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 309-13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

SIMPSON, W. D., 1949, CAIRNBULG CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE, 32-44 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1682.

HISTORIC BUILDINGS COUNCIL FOR SCOTLAND , 1977, CAIRNBULG CASTLE, FRASERBURGH: ARCHITECT'S REPORT, Architects report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4427.

TRANTER, N, 1977, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4, 27-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1950.

HENDRY AND LEGGE, 1988, CAIRNBULIG CASTLE NEAR FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE: CONDITIONS REPORT AND SCHEDULE OF WORKS , Condition report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4426.

BRYCE, ID, 1989, "RESTORATION" IN TRANSACTIONS OF THE BUCHAN FIELD CLUB (1989) 18, PT IV, 9-17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3766.

SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY, 1990, JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES, p.5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1738.

BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.

Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/CT56-9, AAS/00/04/CT56-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12636.

Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/G13/4-8, AAS/00/04/G13/4-8 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12635.

Feb 28 1986 , AAS/86/01/S1/ii/18, AAS/86/01/S1/ii/18 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15090.

Jan 1 1984 , AAS/GR/84/CT113, AAS/GR/84/CT113 (Ground Photograph). SAB32635.

Jan 1 1989 , AAS/GR/89/CT298-300, AAS/GR/89/CT298-300 (Ground Photograph). SAB32747.

Jan 1 1989 , AAS/GR/89/CT319-324, AAS/GR/89/CT319-324 (Ground Photograph). SAB32748.

Jan 20 1994 , AAS/94/01/G2/10-2, AAS/94/01/G2/10-2 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15089.

Jul 24 1992 , AAS/92/06/G5/14-6, AAS/92/06/G5/14-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15088.

Mar 1 2011 , AAS/2011/2/DG3332-6, AAS/2011/2/DG3332-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13195.

Mar 24 2010 , DG1547-58, DG1547-58 (Ground Photograph). SAB13015.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, RATHEN 7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., BUCHAN OBSERVER, 27/06/89 - photo (Bibliographic reference). SAB113.

Sep 1 1989 , JH 15-36, JH 15-36 (Ground Photograph). SAB33717.

Sep 1 1989 , MV 1-6, MV 1-6 (Ground Photograph). SAB33393.

Sep 6 1989 , MW 5-8, MW 5-8 (Ground Photograph). SAB33398.

Record last edited

Sep 7 2026 12:01PM