Harbottle Castle

Perched on a hill just off the main road sits the ruins of Harbottle Castle. I spied this from the top of the hill when visiting the Drake Stone, so had to go and investigate!

There is a dedicated car park right next to it and it's a short walk up the slope. Take notice of the signs which tell you where you can and can't go. We sent in the Red5 Drone to take pictures where it said we should avoid.

This would have been a magnificent castle back in the day. but not much of it remains now, and what does remain is carefully watched over by the sheep!

Harbottle Castle is a ruined medieval castle in Harbottle (obviously!), 14km away from Rothbury, overlooking the River Coquet. The castle was built around 1160 by the Umfraville family at the request of Henry II, as a defence against the Scots.

It had a long and colourful history and was used as a prison between 1377 and 1603, which was monitored by the 'Lord Warden of the Marches' who were responsible for the security of the borders at this time.

It was also the home of Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII between 1515 and 1524, and the home of the Lord Treasurer of Scotland George Home in 1605. However, by 1715 the castle was in ruins and continued to fall into decay.

Just next to the car park is a little standing stone with a poem written by a local school.