A low hill beside the River Ugie preserves the mound of an early earthwork castle even though its timber buildings and associated works no longer stand above ground.
Quick facts
- Date
- Probably 12th or 13th century
- Architect / designer
- Associated in later assessment with the Cheyne or Comyn families
- Type
- Medieval earthwork motte
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM3259)
- OS grid reference
- NK 10221 48653
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The monument survives principally as a motte mound within farmland. Its elevation above the river crossing and historic road corridor gave the site oversight of movement through the Inverugie landscape.
Its story
The earthwork is generally interpreted as a twelfth- or thirteenth-century castle, perhaps associated with the Cheyne or Comyn families. Later stone castles at Inverugie show how defended lordship continued in the same locality.
Why it is included
Scheduling recognises a medieval castle site whose mound and buried deposits can contribute to the history of lordship, route control and settlement beside the River Ugie.
What to notice
- The raised profile of the motte above surrounding fields.
- Its position close to a historic river crossing.
- Visual relationships with later defended sites around Inverugie.
Reading the surroundings
Do not cross cultivated land, fences or livestock enclosures without permission. Never dig, remove material or climb banks where erosion could be caused.
Timeline
- 12th–13th century A timber castle probably occupied an earthwork mound beside the River Ugie.
- Later medieval period Stone castles succeeded the motte within the wider Inverugie lordship landscape.
- Modern period Scheduling recognised the mound and its buried archaeological potential.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
No standing castle fabric survives, and the date, builder, full earthwork plan and current access remain uncertain.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Castle Hill Motte, SM3259 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: SM3259 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- Scottish Government Marine Directorate: Castle Hill setting assessment — Recent documented assessment of the mound, likely medieval date and relationship with the River Ugie landscape.
Location
OS grid reference NK 10221 48653 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms record identity and archival context. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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