Ravenscraig Castle near Peterhead is one of my favourite castles. In June 2016 I was working on a project on a manuscript held in the special collections of the University of Aberdeen. On the Friday I completed my work early, and had a free afternoon. So, instead of getting the train back to Glasgow, I impulsively decided to get the bus up to Peterhead and go and have a look.
I walked out of the town along the North Road, first stopping at the Castle Hill (where I found a clay pipe), an odd feature, possibly a castle motte, then went past the disheartening remains of Inverugie. After crossing the bridge over the Ugie some urchins directed me across some fields to Ravenscraig. It was a terrific place to visit. Wild and everything you could want from a ruin, although probably a shade on the dangerous side, and a few of the trees growing out of the stonework won’t be doing the preservation any good.
So what is the story of this castle? This page will deal with its origins, history, lairds, estate, and architecture.
This Ravenscraig Castle in Buchan shouldn’t be confused with the castle of the same name in Fife. And the Keiths of Ravenscraig shouldn’t be confused with the Keiths of Craig (and Drumtochty) in the Mearns. These confusions perhaps explain why the castle isn’t better known!
The Castle
1491
1590s to 1910s
The Keiths of Ravenscraig
First Laird of Ravenscraig
First Mentioned 1525, dead by 1550
Minister of Ecclesmachan
circa 1609 to 1661