Auchenhove Castle

Auchenhove Castle stands in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, about 5.6 kilometres north-east of Aboyne. Built in the 16th century, it was once a courtyard house with a causeway approach. The site is also known as Easter Mains of Auchinhove. The Duguid family owned the castle and the surrounding barony from around 1434. In 1746, during the Jacobite rising, the Duke of Cumberland’s army burned the castle. The castle’s history is tied to the Duguid family and the Barony of Auchenhove. Its ruins reflect a time when fortified homes were common in Scotland. The Jacobite rising left a mark on the estate, marking a turning point in its story. Little remains today, but the site still carries the weight of its past. The causeway approach hints at how the castle once functioned. Visitors to Auchenhove Castle find a quiet, overgrown ruin set in open countryside. The remains of the courtyard house blend into the landscape. The site offers a glimpse of Scotland’s feudal past without the crowds of busier castles. The surrounding area is peaceful, with views of the rolling Aberdeenshire hills. The castle’s history is best felt rather than seen, in the silence of the ruins.