Fortar Castle

Fortar Castle’s layout features an L-shaped plan typical of 16th-century Scottish fortified houses. It comprises a rectangular main block measuring about 39 feet by 26 feet 6 inches, coupled with a square tower approximately 21 feet on each side situated at the southeast corner. The castle’s main entrance lies within the inward angle formed by the tower and the adjoining block, a common design offering added defense.

The ground floor of the main block originally contained three vaults, one of which functioned as a kitchen notable for its unusually large fireplace. Access to this kitchen occurred via a passage from one of the vaulted compartments. Above, the great hall occupied the first floor, extending across the building’s width and featuring substantial fireplaces on its south and west walls. The second and third floors provided living quarters, including the laird’s primary bedroom on the second floor, deliberately expanded during restoration to match the hall’s size. At the third-floor level, corbelled turrets—projecting stone structures supported by stepped masonry—appear on the northeast and northwest corners. Above the upper bedrooms, an attic space completed the vertical arrangement.

By the mid-20th century, the castle had become a roofless ruin, with vaults and fireplaces in ruins, yet the circular stair turret positioned above the south-facing doorway remained intact. During restoration, the original stonework and visible marks on the fabric of the castle guided accurate reconstruction of the internal layout, preserving historical authenticity. The restored structure maintains traditional stone masonry and vaulted ceilings, reflecting its 16th-century origins.

Today, the castle includes five floors. On the ground floor, two vaulted cellars and the vaulted kitchen occupy the space where a dungeon once stood, repurposed in the restoration. The first floor hosts the great hall with its large fireplace, while the second floor contains the master bedroom occupying the entire width of the building. Three additional bedrooms reside on the third floor, topped by an attic. This reconstruction combined archaeological evidence and historical records to revive the castle’s original form while accommodating the needs of modern use.

Situated within the Angus council area inside the Cairngorms National Park, Fortar Castle is precisely located at grid reference NO18239 64640, with geographic coordinates of 56.766148 latitude and -3.339154 longitude. The castle’s enduring stonework and restored features stand as a testament to its historical role as a guarded stronghold during a time of clan conflict and religious upheaval.