Castle of King Edward

The Castle of King Edward is a ruined 13th-century castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It stands on a knoll beside the Burn of King Edward, six kilometres north of Turriff where the A947 crosses the burn. The River Deveron lies two miles to the east. The castle once served as the main stronghold of the feudal barony of King Edward. The castle’s history reflects Scotland’s turbulent past. It was built in the 13th and 14th centuries by the Comyn family before Robert the Bruce likely slighted it in 1308 during the Harrying of Buchan. Later it passed through the hands of Clan Ross, Alexander Stewart the Wolf of Badenoch, and the MacDonald Earls of Ross. Forfeited in 1455, it was acquired by the Forbes family in 1509 and partly rebuilt in the 16th century. Visitors today see a largely ruined structure with scattered remains of walls and buildings. Two modern bridges cross the burn, hinting at the site’s strategic importance. The outline of the courtyard still runs from north-west to south-east, with traces of the great hall on the north-east side and the gatehouse on the north-west. A dry ditch once protected the entrance, crossed by a drawbridge. The ruins stand quietly in open countryside, offering a glimpse of medieval power long faded.