Pitlurg Castle

Pitlurg Castle was a 16th-century keep, about 3.5 mi east of Keith, Banffshire, Scotland, north of the Burn of Davidston, at Mains of Pitlurg.

History
The name 'Pitlurg', meaning 'the hillside place', suggests there was an earlier Pictish settlement on the site.

A Gordon family, descended from Jock o’Scurdargue, owned the lands until 1724. It was partly occupied until the 1760s. General Gordon, 1815, a descendant, took the name for his estate of Leask and Birness, Formartine.

Robert Gordon of Straloch was born and resided here, inheriting the estate from his brother John.

Structure
Pitlurg Castle was a Z-plan tower house and courtyard. Only one round tower with two vaulted storeys remains. It is now a doocot.

The castle was built on rock. To the south was the Den of Pitlurg, while there was an open view to the west. There was a well in the castle courtyard, while it is thought that the castle was surrounded by a deep ditch, and there was a long range of buildings to the west. The structure to the east has been removed, but it is marked by a rebuilt doorway, and by the remains of a stone staircase leading to the second floor of the tower on the south east side.