Rothes Castle

Rothes Castle is a much ruined castle dating back to the 13th century on a prominent hill overlooking the village of Rothes in Speyside. There is a road leading up to the site with a single parking space, and the ruin is accessible on foot. It consists of a single stone wall which formed part of a courtyard, along with earthworks blocking the approach, with the platform having been landscaped and provided with an information board which is hopelessly inaccurate.

The castle is usually said to have been founded by Peter de Pollock in about 1200, a tenant of the Stewards in Renfrewshire, although it is more likely to be a little later than this. Rothes passed to the Leslie family with marriage by 1286, by which time there was a stone castle here. The castle was maintained and remained in use into the 17th century and was eventually burned down in 1662. It was never rebuilt and was used as a quarry for building materials.

HES Canmore database entry