Hempriggs Castle

Hempriggs Castle stands in Moray, Scotland, about eight kilometres north-east of Forres and six kilometres south of Burghead. Built in the 15th century, it belonged to the Dunbar family who also held lands in Caithness. The castle is believed to have been constructed during the reign of James II of Scotland. Around 1830 it was demolished and its stones reused to build a nearby farmstead. No visible remains of the castle survive today. The site has historical significance as a former stronghold of the Dunbars. Its location between Forres and Burghead places it in an area rich in medieval history. The castle’s connection to James II links it to a key period in Scottish royal power. The Dunbars’ wider property holdings show how local families controlled land across northern Scotland. The decision to dismantle the castle reflects 19th-century changes in land use. Visitors to the area find open farmland where the castle once stood. The farmsteading built from its stones still stands nearby. The surrounding landscape is quiet and rural, typical of Moray’s coastal plain. The route between Forres and Burghead offers views of fields and distant hills. The site itself is unmarked but holds interest for those tracing Scotland’s medieval past.