Peel of Lumphanan

The Peel of Lumphanan is an earthwork castle from the 13th century near the village of Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire. It stands on a raised mound called a motte, surrounded by two ditches and a bank. The outer bank rises about four metres, while the inner ditch measures fifteen metres across. At the top of the mound remains of a thick stone wall and the foundations of a rectangular house can still be seen. The entrance likely faced west, and the lower part of the motte was originally a natural hill that was enlarged. The site has links to Scotland’s medieval past. A battle in 1057 between King Macbeth and Malcolm III took place nearby, where Macbeth was killed. A stone said to be the one on which he was beheaded lies 300 metres to the south-west. The peel was built in the 13th century by the De Lundin family, later known as the Durwards, who used it as a hunting lodge. In 1296, Sir John de Melville paid homage to Edward I of England at this site. Today the Peel of Lumphanan is protected as a scheduled monument. It is recognised as a fine example of an earthwork castle with water-filled defences. Visitors can walk around the grassy mound and see the remains of the stone wall and foundations. The site is quiet and open, offering views over the surrounding countryside. The ditches and banks still mark the original layout, giving a sense of how the castle once stood.