Auchindoun Castle

Auchindoun Castle crowns a lonely hilltop with dramatic views over the surrounding hills. The castle was built about 1480 by Thomas Cochrane, Earl of Mar and favourite of James III. It still retains fine architectural details and is surrounded by the ramparts of an Iron Age hillfort. The sacking of Auchindoun by the Clan Mackintosh inspired a traditional song, "The Burning of Auchindoun": "As A cam in by Fiddichside, on a May mornin A spied Willie MacIntosh an oor before the dawnin Tarn again, tarn again, tarn again, A'se bid ye If ye barn Auchindoun, Huntly he will heid ye Heid me or hang me, that shall never fear me A'll burn Auchindoun tho' the life leave me As A cam in bi Fiddichside on a May mornin Auchindoun was in a bleeze, an oor before the dawnin Crawing, crawing, for a' your crouse crawin' Ye burnt yer crop an tint your wings an oor before the dawnin"