Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, Caithness

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe considered to be one of the earliest seats of Clan Sinclair, built by William Sinclair, the 2nd Earl of Caithness, around 1480.

In 1577, George Sinclair, the 4th Earl of Caithness imprisoned his own son John, Master of Caithness in the castle, on suspicion of rebelling against his rule. He was held there for 7 years, after which his father fed him a diet of salt beef, with nothing to drink, so that he eventually died insane from thirst.

The castle was extended in 1606, with new structures including a gatehouse and other buildings surrounded by a curtain wall, and connected to rest of the castle by a drawbridge. The castle has a number of features of architectural interest: a small secret chamber in the vaulted ceiling of the kitchen, a rock-cut stairway down to the sea, and a well in the lowest level of the tower.

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe was continuously inhabited by the Sinclair Earls of Caithness until 1676, after which John Campbell of Glen Orchy, who married George Sinclair’s widow, claimed the title of Earl of Caithness, as well as Castle Sinclair Girnigoe. George Sinclair of Keiss, who considered himself the rightful heir, stormed the castle in 1679, an action which led to the Battle of Altimarlech in 1680, which the Campbells won.

In 1690, George Sinclair of Keiss once again besieged the castle, and destroyed it with heavy cannon fire, so although he reclaimed the title of Earl of Caithness for Clan Sinclair, Castle Sinclair Girnigoe was now a ruined shell.

Recently, the Clan Sinclair Trust has begun restoration work on the Castle, in an attempt to preserve the archeological and historical importance of the structure.

Opening Times

May to September

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Disabled Facilities

Within the Conservation Plan which is guiding the preservation works provision has been made for disabled access and after the building works have been completed the track will be brought up to a standard for wheelchairs.

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More Information

Email: chief@clansinclair.org