Findlater Castle
The ruins of Findlater Castle are situated
on a rocky outcropping on the coast
between Cullen and Sandend. There has
been some form of fortification on the site
since at least the 13th century, but the
remaining buildings probably date from
the late 14th century when the castle was
owned by the Sinclairs, or possibly from
the mid 15th century when it passed to the
Ogilvies. It came into the possession of
the Gordons in 1546, when Sir Alexander
Ogilvie disinherited his son and signed the
property over to Sir John Gordon, son of the Earl of Huntly.
Sir Alexander’s son, James Ogilvie used his influence as Steward to Queen Mary’s
household to get his inheritance back. In 1562, Sir John Gordon refused to
surrender the castle and grant entrance to Mary, Queen of Scots. She sent a
company of troops to seize it, but they were defeated by Sir John Gordon. He was
later defeated at the Battle of Corrichie, taken to Aberdeen and beheaded. The
castle was returned to the Ogilvies, who abandoned it soon after 1600.
