SCOTLAND is home to dozens of extraordinary forts, keeps and castles dating back to the Middle Ages and beyond.
One truly exceptional example is Dunnottar Castle, a historic ruin that has been invaded by the Vikings, attacked by William Wallace and even safeguarded the Honours of Scotland during the War of the Three Kingdoms.
Once home to a chapel established by St Ninian, the "haunting" site where the once "impregnable" fortress of the Earls Marischal lies was once home to the "oldest" Pictish fort ever discovered by archaeologists.
This early history is evident through the castle's name, which derives from the Pictish word "dun", meaning "fort," according to the Dunnottar Castle website.
See the 'incredibly beautiful' yet 'haunting' Dunnottar Castle in Scotland, which once housed Scotland's crown jewels
The castle has long been commended as a wonderful place to visit, with it recently featuring in a Telegraph list of the best keeps to see in the UK.
Discussing the incredible attraction in Scotland, the newspaper said: "Dunnottar crouches on a promontory between two bays, glaring at the North Sea.
"St Ninian built a chapel here in 400, the Vikings invaded in 900, William Wallace attacked 400 years later, and the Honours of Scotland were kept safe here.
"Later, stripped bare, it was rescued by the Cowdrays, who still own it."
One person said: "Even though mostly ruins, this Castle is incredibly beautiful and impressive.
"The location, scale and the feat of architectural engineering are only slightly eclipsed by the part that the Castle and people around it played in Scotland’s history.
"If in the area and able to survive a decent walk up and down the cliff, I’d recommend you take the time to visit."
"Loved it and the experience! It is a good weekend trip with your loved ones or solo!"
A third person penned: "After seeing a photo of this castle, I changed our trip and route to include it. I don't regret that decision.
"The castle is in ruins, but it's cool to explore. Its location is amazing!"
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Another wrote: "This is the sort of castle I was really looking forward to visiting.
"Perched on an outcropping of rock, it left me amazed at the dedication, effort and ingenuity that must have gone into gathering supplies and building it.
"Spectacular views and a great architectural sampling of earlier ages made this a satisfying visit!"
