Towie Barclay Castle

#6083 among destinations in the United Kingdom

Forts and castles

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Facts and practical information

Towie Barclay Castle is a historic castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 4.5 miles south-south-east of Turriff. The current structure was built in 1593 by Clan Barclay. The site was given to the Clan in the 11th century by Malcolm III of Scotland. Following Clan Barclay's pillage of a nunnery in the 12th century, Thomas the Rhymer proclaimed: "Towie Barclay of the Glen/Happy to the maids/But never to the men." which was interpreted as a curse on the male line. Belief in the curse was strong enough that it was given as a reason by Mr. Barclay Maitland for the sale of Towie Barclay Castle in 1753 to the Earl of Findlater, who, after "dreeing the weird," and after his son also died, sold it to Gordon's Hospital in Aberdeen in 1792. ()

Coordinates: 57°29'6"N, 2°25'41"W

Location

ScotlandUnited Kingdom

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Day trips

Towie Barclay Castle – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Fyvie Castle, Delgatie Castle, Moot hill, Hatton Castle.

3.1 miSE
Historical place, Reportedly haunted, Forts and castles
Fyvie Castle, Fyvie
80 min walk • Fyvie Castle is a castle in the village of Fyvie, near Turriff in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
4.1 miN
Reportedly haunted, Forts and castles
Delgatie Castle, Turriff
106 min walk • Delgatie Castle is a castle near Turriff, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. A castle has stood on the site of Delgatie Castle since the year 1030 AD, although the earliest parts of the castle standing today were built between 1570 and 1579.
2.6 miNW
Archaeological site
Moot hill
67 min walk • A moot hill or mons placiti is a hill or mound historically used as an assembly or meeting place, as a moot hall is a meeting or assembly building, also traditionally to decide local issues. In early medieval Britain, such hills were used for "moots", meetings of local people to settle local business.
2 miN
Forts and castles
Hatton Castle
52 min walk • Hatton Castle is almost three miles south-east of Turriff, Aberdeenshire in the north-east of Scotland. Formerly known as Balquholly Castle, sometimes spelt as Balquollie, it was renamed in 1814.
6.6 miSW
Archaeological site
Ythan Wells
169 min walk • Ythan Wells, also known as Glenmailen, is the site of a Roman military camp, near the farm of Glenmellan, 2.1 kilometres east of the village of Ythanwells in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The site is a designated scheduled monument.
3.8 miNW
Sport, Sport venue
The Haughs, Turriff
98 min walk • Turriff United Football Club are a senior football club currently playing in the Highland Football League in Scotland. They play their matches at The Haughs, beside the River Deveron in Turriff, Aberdeenshire. They joined the Highland League for the 2009–10 season, having been accepted into the league on 25 February 2009.