Castles · Scottish Highlands
Cluny Castle
Cluny Castle — castle in Cluny, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
About
Cluny Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Owned by John Gordon. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in Cluny, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 57.2044°, -2.5164°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Cluny Castle was originally built c.1604 as a Z-plan castle replacing either a house or small peel tower. Sited in the parish of Cluny, it is south of Monymusk and north of Sauchen in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland. Owned by the Gordon baronets of Cluny and three separate branches of the family over the centuries, it was used to shelter Jacobite rebels in the mid-18th century. Extensive additions were made in 1820 to the design of architect John Smith when it was in the ownership of Colonel John Gordon. The private chapel, once completed in 1870, was described by the British press as "one of the first and most beautiful oratories in the kingdom". Two wings of the castle and the adjoining private chapel were destroyed by fire in 1926, but the damage was mostly restored.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Cluny Castle was originally built c.1604 as a Z-plan castle replacing either a house or small peel tower. Sited in the parish of Cluny, it is south of Monymusk and north of Sauchen in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland. Owned by the Gordon baronets of Cluny and three separate branches of the family over the centuries, it was used to shelter Jacobite rebels in the mid-18th century. Extensive additions were made in 1820 to the design of architect John Smith when it was in the ownership of Colonel John Gordon. The private chapel, once completed in 1870, was described by the British press as "one of the first and most beautiful oratories in the kingdom". Two wings of the castle and the adjoining private chapel were destroyed by fire in 1926, but the damage was mostly restored. It is a Category A listed building and has been used as a film setting. The grounds are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland and are described as 'Outstanding' in their Artistic and Historical Interest by Historic Scotland. As of 2025 it remains privately owned by Cosmo Linzee Gordon of Cluny who has employed craftsmen to complete extensive renovations. It is not open to the public but corporate events are hosted there and weddings are held in the chapel.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
On an unknown date prior to 1325, King Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Cluny (Gaelic meaning meadow or "meadows interspersed with rising grounds") to his sister Mary's husband, Alexander Fraser. The lands passed down through the family, via Adam Gordon of Huntly and the Earls of Huntly, to John Gordon, a younger son of the 3rd Earl. His son Sir Thomas Gordon (d. 1607) built the castle to replace an earlier house or peel tower. The lands were inherited by his son, Alexander Gordon, who became the fourth laird of Cluny and the second baronet. By 1636 the cost of building the castle combined with other financial difficulties caused ownership of the lands to be transferred. The castle had…
Architecture
Construction of the original Z-plan castle was completed in 1604; there is a commemorative stone inscribed "Thom. Gordon a Cluny miles me fecit 1604". The Master Mason Ian (John) Bell (Bel) is attributed with the construction of the original Cluny Castle and nearby Castle Fraser. MacGibbon and Ross attributed Cluny to a date earlier than 1604 and suggested it was similar in design to Claypotts Castle and would date from about the same time. The Aberdeen City Architect, John Smith was commissioned to undertake an extensive redesign of the castle in the 1820s. Completion of the construction work spanned several years and meant the castle was unsuitable for residential use until 1832. It took…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 57.2044, -2.5164
- District
- Aberdeenshire
- Postcode
- AB51 7RT
- Parliamentary constituency
- West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
- Official site
- www.clunycastle.com
Sources
- wikidata: Q15279294 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Cluny Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Cluny Castle.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Cluny Castle?
- Cluny Castle is in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (postcode AB51 7RT).
- Who owns Cluny Castle?
- Cluny Castle is owned by John Gordon.
- Is Cluny Castle a listed building?
- Cluny Castle is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Does Cluny Castle charge admission?
- Cluny Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Cluny Castle?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode AB51 7RT. It sits within the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine parliamentary constituency.