Pittulie Castle (Scotland)

Pittulie Castle is a late 16th century fortified house just outside Rosehearty on the north coast of Aberdeenshire. We don't know exactly when it was built, but probably in 1596 to celebrate the marriage of Alexander Fraser of Philorth to Margaret Abernethy of Saltoun.

From the Frasers the castle passed to the Cumine family, who enlarged the original tower. Sometime before 1791 it was acquired by Sir William Forbes but was finally abandoned around 1850 and left to rot.

The castle was built around a courtyard, like Pitsligo, another of Fraser's fortified houses which can be seen across the field to the west. The rows of buildings around the rectangular courtyard are 2 stories high, with storage rooms on the ground floor and main rooms above.

At the northwest corner is a 4-story tower, which has bay windows set in the corners on two sides. The laird's chamber would have been on the top floor of this tower.

Backing against the northwest wall are the remains of later buildings, probably utilitarian farm buildings. About 50 meters to the west stands a ruined dovecote, perhaps related to the castle; it certainly would make sense if it were.

Above the tower door are two empty panels, now filled in. These were originally intended to contain carved coats of arms, but the coats of arms have been removed and inserted into the outer wall of the Mains of Pitullie farmhouse. It's worth a look; the carving is extremely sharp and clear, and the workmanship is excellent.

Pittulie is one of the so-called 'Nine Knuckle Castles', a group of fortified tower houses in the Buchan area of north-east Aberdeenshire. Others in the group include Rattray, Lonmay, Inverallochy, Cairnbulg, Dundarg and Pittulie's closest neighbour, Pitsligo.