Craigmaroinn

Craigmaroinn is a small rocky island in the North Sea off the Aberdeenshire coast. It lies between the villages of Portlethen and Downies, roughly midway along the shoreline. The skerry is surrounded by open water and distant views of the Scottish mainland. Nearby on land stand historic houses and castles, including Elsick House and Muchalls Castle. The area also features Gillybrands, another point of local interest. The site has links to Scotland’s past through the Causey Mounth, an old trackway built to keep travel above boggy ground. This raised route once connected Stonehaven to Aberdeen, passing close to Craigmaroinn. In 1639 a Covenanter army of nine thousand men, led by William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal and the Marquess of Montrose, marched along this way before a battle. The trackway once ran from the River Dee crossing near the present Bridge of Dee through Portlethen Moss and past Muchalls Castle. Visitors to the area find a quiet stretch of coastline with few buildings. The skerry itself is best viewed from the shore at low tide when more of the rock is exposed. Walkers can follow parts of the old Causey Mounth route across the mosslands. Elsick House and Muchalls Castle stand inland as landmarks from earlier centuries. The villages nearby offer simple harbours and small piers for those exploring the coast.