Historic Places in Caithness

Castle Sinclair and Girnigoe is a castle located on a rocky promontory jutting out into Sinclair Bay about 3 miles north of Wick on the east coast of Caithness, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is one of the earliest seats of Clan Sinclair. The castle, an L-plan crow-stepped gabled tower house, is a ruin and is being restored by its owner, The Clan Sinclair Trust. Castle Sinclair and Girnigoe was originally known as Castle Girnigoe. It was built by William Sinclair, the 2nd Earl of Caithness in the late 15th century. The castle was extended in 1606, with new structures surrounded by a curtain wall, connected to rest of the castle by a drawbridge over a ravine. The name was then changed from Castle Girnigoe to Castle Sinclair. Girnigoe was originally a 5 story L-plan crow-stepped gabled tower house. The tower was joined to various outbuildings within a surrounding wall. The castle has a small secret chamber in the vaulted ceiling of the kitchen, a rock-cut stairway down to the sea. Castle Sinclair and Girnigoe was inhabited by the Sinclair Earls of Caithness until George Sinclair, the 6th Earl of Caithness died without heir. John Campbell of Glen Orchy, who married George Sinclair's widow,took over the castle. George Sinclair of Keiss stormed the castle to reclaim it for the Sinclairs in 1679, and this led to the Battle of Altimarlech in 1680, which was won by the Campbells. In 1690, George Sinclair of Keiss besieged the castle again and destroyed it with heavy cannon fire.

Ackergill Tower (also known as Ackergill Castle) is located in Wick, Caithness. The castle was originally a five storey tower house. It has now been converted to a luxury hotel and business venue. There are 25 bedrooms, with 17 in the Castle, the rest in the Keepers, Old Laundry, Garden House and Smiddy. The castle was originally built in the 15th century by clan Keith. In 1547, the Sinclairs of Sinclair & Girnigoe Castle attacked and captured the castle. Mary the Regent (wife of James V) returned Ackergill Tower to the Keiths, and appointed Lord Oliphant as keeper of Ackergill. The Sinclairs again captured the castle in 1556. Ackergill was recaptured by the Keiths in the late 1590s. The Sinclairs bought the castle in 1612 before surrendering it to Sir Robert Gordon in 1623. Oliver Cromwell may have used Ackergill Castle in 1651 as a barracks. Ackergill was bought by Sir William Dunbar in 1699. The Dunbars extensively renovated the castle began extensive renovations, including an extension to the tower. It remained in the Dunbars family until 1986, when it was sold and converted to a hotel and business venue.

The Castle of Mey (formerly known as Barrogill Castle) is situated in Caithness on the north coast of Scotland. It is about six miles west of John o' Groats. In clear weather there are views north to the Orkney Islands. The castle was purchased by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1952. She restored the castle for use as a holiday home and regularly visited it from 1955 until her death in 2002. In July 1996 The Queen Mother transferred ownership of the property to the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust. The castle and garden is now open to the public as a popular tourist attraction. A new Visitors Centre was opened in 2007. Legends The castle is reputedly haunted by The Green Lady, ghost of Elizabeth Sinclair, the daughter of the 5th Earl of Caithness. Apparently, the Earl was not impressed when he found out his daughter had fallen in love with a servant, and locked here up in a castle attic. The heartbroken Elizabeth committed suicide by jumping from a castle window.