Slains Castle

Welcome to the windswept cliffs of the northeast coast of Scotland. As you approach the dramatic ruins of Slains Castle, you are immediately struck by the sheer elemental power of this landscape. …

Standing before the towering exterior walls of the castle, the sheer architectural ambition of the Earls of Errol becomes undeniable. What began as a simple tower house evolved dramatically over the centuries. …

As we move toward what was once the main entrance of the castle, you might notice something highly unusual about the architectural layout. Unlike many grand stately homes that feature sweeping interior staircases leading from a…

Moving to the right from the main entrance, we approach the remnants of the square tower. This section incorporates the very oldest masonry on the site, dating all the way back to the fifteen nineties when Francis Hay first built…

Following the path toward the edge of the cliffs, we step into the footprint of what was once the most magnificent apartment in the entire castle: the grand drawing room. Take a moment to pace out the dimensions of this space. …

Continuing our route to the northern side of the complex, we enter the space that once housed the legendary library of Slains Castle. This room featured another large bay window, this one facing north, allowing for steady, even…

We now arrive at the absolute architectural heart of Slains Castle, the central space known as the Saloon. If you look at the floor plan of the ruin, you will notice that this room is perfectly octagonal. …

As we move away from the grand public rooms and look toward the lower levels on the landward side, we explore the vast domestic infrastructure that was required to keep a palace of this magnitude functioning. Because the grand…

As our walking tour of Slains Castle comes to an end, we return toward the landward paths, taking one final, sweeping look at the jagged silhouette dominating the headland. The story of this place is a profound narrative of rise…