Pitlurg Castle

Pitlurg Castle stands in Moray, about 5.6 kilometres south of Keith. It was a 16th-century keep built on rock, north of the Burn of Davidston. The site overlooks the Den of Pitlurg to the south and offers open views to the west. A deep ditch once surrounded the castle, and a long range of buildings stood to the west. A well was located in the courtyard, and the remains of a stone staircase lead to the second floor of the tower on the south-east side. The castle belonged to the Gordon family, descended from Jock o’Scurdargue, who owned the lands until 1724. In 1589, King James VI wrote to John Gordon of Pitlurg requesting a hackney horse for his bride-to-be, Anne of Denmark. John Gordon was later made keeper of Huntly Castle in 1594. Robert Gordon of Straloch, born near Newmachar, resided at Pitlurg after inheriting the estate. Only one round tower with two vaulted storeys remains today, now used as a doocot. The structure to the east has been removed, but its doorway and staircase foundations are still visible. The castle’s name, meaning ‘the hillside place,’ suggests an earlier Pictish settlement once stood there. The open western views and the nearby Den of Pitlurg add to the site’s character.