The incredible castle which once housed Scotland's crown jewels
Once home to a chapel established by St Ninian, the "haunting" site where the once "impregnable" fortress of the Earls Marischal lies was once home to the "oldest" Pictish fort ever discovered by archaeologists.
This early history is evident through the castle's name, which derives from the Pictish word "dun", meaning "fort," according to the Dunnottar Castle website.
The site where Dunnottar Castle is located was once home to a Pictish fort (Image: Tripadvisor)
See the 'incredibly beautiful' yet 'haunting' Dunnottar Castle in Scotland, which once housed Scotland's crown jewels
The castle has long been commended as a wonderful place to visit, with it recently featuring in a Telegraph list of the best keeps to see in the UK.
Discussing the incredible attraction in Scotland, the newspaper said: "Dunnottar crouches on a promontory between two bays, glaring at the North Sea.
"St Ninian built a chapel here in 400, the Vikings invaded in 900, William Wallace attacked 400 years later, and the Honours of Scotland were kept safe here.
"Later, stripped bare, it was rescued by the Cowdrays, who still own it."
Dunnottar Castle was recently named one of the best forts to visit in the UK to visit (Image: Tripadvisor) The Scottish location has also received praise from visitors, with users on Tripadvisor giving it a 4.8/5 out of 3406 reviews.
One person said: "Even though mostly ruins, this Castle is incredibly beautiful and impressive.
"The location, scale and the feat of architectural engineering are only slightly eclipsed by the part that the Castle and people around it played in Scotland's history.
"If in the area and able to survive a decent walk up and down the cliff, I'd recommend you take the time to visit."
The Scottish spot has also been praised by visitors online (Image: Tripadvisor) Another said: "The castle is beautiful with a stunning view from the cliff and beach.
"Loved it and the experience! It is a good weekend trip with your loved ones or solo!"
A third person penned: "After seeing a photo of this castle, I changed our trip and route to include it. I don't regret that decision.
"The castle is in ruins, but it's cool to explore. Its location is amazing!"
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Another wrote: "This is the sort of castle I was really looking forward to visiting.
"Perched on an outcropping of rock, it left me amazed at the dedication, effort and ingenuity that must have gone into gathering supplies and building it.
"Spectacular views and a great architectural sampling of earlier ages made this a satisfying visit!"
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