Evidence of Picts living on the sea stack of Dunnicaer, just north of where the Castle is situated today, has been found by archaeologists from the University of Aberdeen. Carbon dating shows this to be the oldest Pictish fort ever discovered, in fact the name ‘dun’ is Pictish for ‘fort’. It is not known exactly how long ago the site was originally inhabited, it is believed that the Picts established it between 5000BC and 700AD.

Saint Ninian, an early Christian missionary, establishes a place of worship on the site where the Castle now stands and converts the Picts of Dunnottar to Christianity.

King Donald II of Scotland is killed at Dunnottar by an invading Viking force which went on to destroy the buildings here.

William Wishart, Bishop of St Andrews, consecrates a stone chapel at Dunnottar, parts of which remain.

In the first of these struggles, after the invasion of Scotland by English forces, William Wallace attacks an English garrison at Dunnottar, taking it back under Scottish control. Legend has it that Wallace showed no mercy to the soldiers and set fire to the Chapel where they had taken refuge, condemning all inside to a terrible death. Others were driven over the cliff edges, with no survivors.

The Second War of Independence saw English forces seize Dunnottar Castle again in support of Edward Balliol’s bid for the Scottish throne.

Sir William Keith, Great Marischal of Scotland, builds the first stone castle at Dunnottar, now known as The Keep.

Pope Benedict XIII intervenes in a dispute over the building of fortifications (the Keep) at Dunnottar on consecrated ground.

King James II created Sir William Keith, 1st Earl Marischal, a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title.

Mary Queen of Scots visits the Castle for the first time. Returning two years later and spending two nights there in September 1564.

George Keith, 5^th Earl Marischal, continues to add buildings to Dunnottar. A pet lion is brought to the Castle and is housed in what we know as The Lion’s Den. He also founds Marischal College in the City of Aberdeen, the second of Scotland's post-medieval 'civic universities', following the University of Edinburgh.

William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal, declares allegiance to the Covenanters, resisting religious reforms of Charles I.

As civil war develops, James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose marches at the head of Royalist Army to attempt negotiation with the 7^th Earl Marischal. The Earl repeatedly refuses and when diplomacy fails, Montrose and his army lays waste to Stonehaven and the barony of Dunnottar.

During the war between Scotland, England and Ireland in the mid-1640s, known as the War of Three Kingdoms, King Charles II is a guest of the 7^th Earl Marischal. The young King’s arrival to Scotland prompts an invasion by the Parliamentary Army, led by Oliver Cromwell. Dunnottar Castle plays a vital role in the safekeeping of the Scottish crown jewels, the Honours of Scotland.

The Honours of Scotland are on display at Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh.

Over 167 Covenanters and Whigs are imprisoned within a cellar in terrible conditions at Dunnottar for refusing to acknowledge religious reforms imposed by King Charles II.

George Keith, 10th Earl Marischal, is a key figure in the failed Jacobite Rising to overthrow King George I. As a result of his service to the Jacobite cause, he forfeits his title and estates, including Dunnottar Castle.

Following the 10^th Earl Marischal’s forfeiture of his title and lands and after 400 years of Dunnottar being the seat of Clan Keith, it is sold by the Government to the York Building Company. Everything of any value was removed including, floors, ceilings and all furniture leaving just a shell.

Lord and Lady Cowdray purchase the Castle and begin an extensive programme of conservation and restoration works, protecting it from further damage and deterioration. The Castle is re-opened to the public following these works. It remains in the same family and open to this day.

The Black Hill was gifted by Lord and Lady Cowdray to the local community for the Stonehaven War Memorial. It was designed by the Stonehaven architect, John Ellis, and the fundraising for building the monument was organised by locals. It is unique in that it can be seen from most parts of Stonehaven and the surrounding area.

The structure is an incomplete round temple and was intentionally designed as such to be a reminder of the loss of life and incompleteness of a full life of those who died in the Wars. An inscription carved into the stone at the top of the temple is written: "One by one death challenged them, they smiled in his grim visage and refused to be dismayed".

Today, the Castle is one of Scotland’s most popular and spectacular tourist attractions, welcoming over 135,000 visitors in 2019. We were delighted to give The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are known when in Scotland, a tour of the Castle in October 2019.