Craigneach Castle

Craigneach Castle stood on a spur above Strathspey in Moray, about one and a half kilometres east of Carron and nearly five kilometres west of Charlestown of Aberlour. The tower house commanded views over the River Spey and the surrounding strath. Its L-shaped plan rose from a rocky spur, giving it a strong defensive position. Inside, the main building measured roughly four and a half metres across. A dry-stone wall enclosed the site, adding to its fortified appearance. The castle’s origins remain uncertain, though it may be the ‘Place of Elchies’ mentioned in records from 1645. In that year, Covenanters plundered the property during a period of unrest. Little else is known about its early history or ownership. By the 19th century, the structure had already fallen into ruin. Today, no visible remains survive above ground. Visitors to the area can still sense the site’s strategic importance. The spur where the castle once stood offers wide views across the strath and the river below. The surrounding landscape remains largely unchanged, with moorland and farmland stretching towards the hills. The absence of ruins makes the spot quiet and reflective, a place to imagine the past rather than to see it.