Corgarff Castle

Overview

Corgarff Castle is a 16th-century, four-storey tower house that was heavily modified in 1748 when it was converted into a fort with the addition of two single-storey pavilions and an outer star-shaped wall. The star shape design ensures that all parts of the wall are covered by 2 angles of fire.

The castle guarded the Cock Bridge to Tomintoul pass and its strategic importance made it a frequent target during the Jacobite rebellions. The castle has been burnt on 3 occasions.

The castle has been restored to appear as it would have done between 1748 and 1831 when it was bought by the Government and used as a military garrison. It now contains an exhibition and reconstruction of an 18th-century barrack room. There is also a display showing an old whisky still because the castle was used as a base for hunting out illicit distillers.

The castle is just a short distance from the A939, at Cock Bridge, so worth a visit if you have got a Historic Scotland Explorer Pass.

It should be noted that there is a bit of a walk from the car park to the castle and the castle is closed for ~1 hour from 12:30 to 13:30, while the curator has a lunch break. Remember to check lunch break hours on the notice board in the car park, otherwise, you might have a wasted walk.

Save money on visiting this attraction by buying an Explorer Pass