Kincardine
Not to be confused with other castles
of the same name, Kincardine was a royal castle claimed to have been
built for Alexander II (1214-49). It was here that King John Balliol retreated in 1296 after the battle of Dunbar, before finally surrendering to the forces of King Edward I at Montrose.
Description
The site stands upon a rise of ground just over a mile north-east of
Fettercairn
in Aberdeenshire and is about 120' square. As it stood in a marsh
it appears never to have been ditched, but consists of a simple curtain
wall, some 8' thick, with a twin rectangular gatehouse to the south.
The curtain had a sloping plinth and still stands up to 6' high.
To the north was a postern while internal buildings graced the
north and east sides. Its simple plan makes it similar to other
quadrangular castles like Balvenie, Banff and Castle Roy.
Excavations in 2013 uncovered a piece of pig bone radiocarbon dated to 1040-1220.
Why not join me
at other Great
Scottish Castles this Spring?
Information on tours at Scholarly
Sojourns.
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Paul Martin Remfry