Pittulie castle: A close encounter

 Pittulie Castle is visible from the Sandhaven to Rosehearty road but, being set in the middle of a field some distance back from the road, is relatively inaccessible. As a result it is protected from vandalism and is the home of pigeons and rooks. We are told that a barn owl inhabits the ruins and  there is heronry here in spring, certainly there are usually several heron on the shore near the end of 'Mains's  Road'.



Details of the ornate stonework which badge Pittulie as a an elegant courtyard chateau, though on a far smaller scale than its neighbour Pitsligo. The beautiful sandstone corbelling at the base of the round stair tower (top left) subtly exploits the grain of the sandstone with tremendous effect.





A hard frost on a bright day provided the perfect conditions to cross the field surrounding Pittulie Castle and to inspect the ruins. The castle which probably replaces an older building dates from 1596 but has later additions and was built by the Frasers of Philorth.

Charles McKean variously describes Pittulie as being 'set in the delectable flat land round Fraserburgh' and 'sitting like a stranded battleship in fields within sight of Pitsligo Castle'. Pitsligo is just visible in the distant trees.

 

The castle from the East.

The low main entrance to the original tower, the architraves of the door have worn cable mouldings,  two cantilevered stones support the lintel, one of the square holes for the drawbar which would have been used to secure the door can just be made out on the right.(3rd stone up) The interior of the castle is strewn with rubble and bird droppings.

The tall chimney probably belonged to what are thought to be the ruined kitchens. There are two round stair towers, the larger, visible in the angle of the tower and accommodation block, has superb sandstone corbelling and rises from the level of the main hall. It probably led up to a viewing platform. Infront of it in the picture, a smaller tower on the courtyard block would have given access to the main rooms which were on the first floor. 

The castle, like Pitsligo was built round a courtyard, the two storey courtyard buildings had the principal rooms on the first floor above vaulted cellars. By tradition the laird's room was at the top of the square tower.

The buildings on the right of the picture were possibly the kitchens and are a likely to be a later addition.. 



The four storey main tower has oriel windows set diagonally on the NE and NW corners. These  would have given amazing views of the Moray Firth. Above the main door of the tower is a tympanum  and now empty armorial panels. The missing panels have been built into walls at nearby Mains of Pittulie



The main accommodation block had turrets at the SW and SE corners, these have incredibly ornate bases.There was a large doorway in the centre of the south facing wall which would have given access to the gardens. 

The castle was probably built for the marriage of Alexander Fraser of Philorth and Margaret Abernethy of Saltoun in 1596. It was as a result of this marriage that the Frasers inherited the Saltoun peerage. The castle was passed to the Cumine family who enlarged it before later abandoning it around 1850. William Cumine of Pittulie joined Pitsligo's Horse  along with Hugh Mercer in 1745, after Culloden he lived in Edinburgh for sometime before eventually being able to return to Pittulie.