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Castle Roy

Not much is known about Castle Roy, which perhaps befits its rather simple construction.

It is said to have been built by the Comyns in the late 12th or early 13th century, and stands on top of a rocky mound rising around 4.5m above the level of the field in which it stands.

There is no evidence of a ditch around the bottom of the mound, however an archaeological investigation revealed that the ground was boggy in the past, offering a natural defence.

The castle itself is an almost rectangular parallelogram, with walls 2.1m thick enclosing a space of 24m north to south by 16m east to west. The walls still stand to a height of between 6.0 and 7.6m.

The entrance is via a 2.5m wide doorway in the north wall, with a pointed archway.

At the north-west corner of the castle is a small projecting square tower with a window next to it, also featuring an arch with pointed details. Both of these features are thought to be later additions.

There is a large, broken opening at the south-east corner, which looks almost as if it was made in preparation for the addition of another tower, although there is no evidence of one having ever been built.

Inside the south-west corner there is a latrine recess at ground level, above which would have been a garderobe. But nothing now remains of any buildings within the interior of the castle.

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Alternative names for Castle Roy

Redcastle

Where is Castle Roy?

Castle Roy is in the parish of Abernethy and Kincardine and the county of Inverness-shire.

Grid reference: NJ 0065 2192

Lat / long: 57.277123, -3.649320

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Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Castle Roy

OS map OL57
Cairn Gorm & Aviemore (Loch Morlich)
OS Explorer map OL57


OS map OL61
Grantown-on-Spey & Hills of Cromdale (Upper Knockdale & Tomnavoulin)
OS Explorer map OL61


Directions to Castle Roy

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Weather at Castle Roy

11°C
max 11°C / min 11°C
5km/h SW
1025mb
82%
40%
03:17 21:14

Scattered clouds
Weather observed at Grantown on Spey at 21:56

References (websites)

Canmore
Castle Roy Trust
  • Ancestry UK

Castles near Castle Roy

Coulnakyle (site of)

0.9km away

Muckrach Castle

3.7km away

Petriny motte

4.5km away

Tom Pitlac

6.3km away

Castle Grant

8.9km away

Lethendry Castle

9.5km away

Grant's Fort

10.7km away

Castle Cumming

12.6km away

Lochindorb Castle

14.7km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Castle Roy

Aviemore ring cairn, stone circle

13.8km away

Balnuaran Of Clava, Centre ring cairn and stone circle

33.5km away

Balnuaran Of Clava, North-East chambered cairn, stone circle and rock art

33.5km away

Balnuaran Of Clava, South-West chambered cairn, stone circle and rock art

33.5km away

Balnuaran of Clava kerb cairn and rock art

33.6km away

Buchaam souterrain

39.4km away

Urquhart Castle fort

47.9km away

Clootie Well sacred site

48.4km away

Gleann Beag stone circle

50.1km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Castle Roy

Ballintomb Class I symbol stone

2.2km away

Finlarig Class I symbol stone

3.8km away

Inverallan 1 Class I symbol stone

4.6km away

Lynchurn Class I symbol stone

5.5km away

Congash 2 Class I symbol stone

6.7km away

Congash 1 Class I symbol stone

6.7km away

Grantown Class I symbol stone

9.0km away

Balneilean Class I symbol stone

14.8km away

Advie Class I symbol stone

19.0km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Castle Roy

Torvean silver chain

41.3km away

Burghead fort

48.3km away

Gaulcross hoard

67.6km away

Parkhill silver chain

89.8km away

Dunnicaer fort

94.6km away

Nigg silver chain

95.4km away

Norrie's Law hoard

121.1km away

Haddington silver chain

156.4km away

Traprain Law silver chain

157.4km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Castle Roy

The Mountview Hotel
hotelSkye of Curr
1.1km away
Nethybridge Hotel
hotelSkye of Curr
1.3km away
Nethy Bridge SYHA Hostel
hostelNethy Bridge
1.4km away
Rivendell Cottage
self-catering cottageNethy Bridge
1.4km away
Muckrach Lodge Hotel & Restaurant
hotelGrantown-on-Spey
3.9km away
Craggan Bunkhouse & Bothy
hostelGrantown-on-Spey
4.6km away
Eden House (luxury & organic B&B)
bed and breakfastGrantown on Spey
5.6km away
The Craiglynne Hotel
hotelGrantown on Spey
5.8km away
Willowbank Guest House
bed and breakfastGrantown-On-Spey
5.9km away
Seafield Lodge Hotel
hotelGrantown-on-Spey
6.1km away

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bed and breakfasts
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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Castle Roy

Clootie Dumpling Restaurant
restaurant, caféDulnain Bridge
2.9km away
Garth Hotel & Restaurant
hotel, restaurantGrantown on Spey
6.7km away
Macdonald Lochanhully Woodland Club
self-catering apartments, barCarrbridge
9.1km away
Dalrachney Lodge Hotel
hotel, restaurantCarrbridge
9.9km away
Macdonald Spey Valley Golf & Country Club
self-catering apartments, restaurant, barAviemore
13.3km away
International Starters Restaurant and Rooms
hotel, restaurantAviemore
13.9km away
Ski-ing Doo
restaurantAviemore
14.4km away
Macdonald Academy Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantAviemore
14.6km away
Cairngorm Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barAviemore
14.7km away
Macdonald Highlands Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantAviemore
14.8km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
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Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
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Inveraray Castle and standing stone
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
Dunbar harbour and castle
Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 21st of February 2011 at 9:20 pm. Updated on the 21st of March 2022 at 7:10 pm.

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About

Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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