Dunnottar Castle Self-Portrait
If this castle makes you think of Hamlet, you’re right: parts of the 1990 film starring Mel Gibson were filmed here, at Dunnottar Castle, just south of Stonehaven on Scotland’s northeast coast. And the Gibson connection doesn’t end there: in 1297 William Wallace, portrayed by crazy ol’ Mel in the bloody blockbuster Braveheart, recaptured the castle from the English during the wars for Scottish independence and after locking several hundred soldiers in the castle’s church, burned everybody inside alive. Dark history here, as with all castles, but the ruins are beautiful.
Entering Dunnottar. The castle is surrounded by cliffs on three sides, with the fourth guarded by a steep approach and a formidable entryway.
Inside the Compound
Nik at Dunnottar
Seaside Ruins
View from a Tower
Blacksmith’s Arch. Amazing it’s still standing!
The Church. Not the one burned by Wallace. That one is long gone.
Courtyard Well
Inscription & Lichen
Castle Prison
View from the Prison
Walking the Headlands
Dunnottar Panorama (click to enlarge)
For more on Dunnottar’s long and dark history click here. Love castles? Me too! Check out my previous post from Germany: Castles in the Rain.
Travels with the Blonde Coyote 
really cool Mary, how did they build on so steep grades? Just love the green everywhere…
It also looks very “Mist of Avalon” (Marion Zimmer Bradley) even though it’s in Scotland. What a beautiful and thought provoking photo 🙂
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Wow,, amazing. Good capture :’)
Absolutely amazing place. Thanks for sharing the photos so the rest of us out there can experience it as well 🙂
I love that last picture! So many links to Scottish history here, along with the great scenery.
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What a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing it with us. And… where did you get those very cool shoes?!