Castle of Old Wick

  • Near Wick, Caithness

 

Overview

Discover one of Caithness' most striking medieval sites, perched on a narrow promontory, flanked by towering cliffs.

The dramatic ruins of the Castle of Old Wick stand on a spine of rock projecting into the North Sea, between two deep, narrow gullies. It is difficult to ascribe a definite date to this spectacular stronghold, but its origins are probably in the later 14th century.

Known to some as ‘The Old Man of Wick’, the castle is dominated by its four-storey tower. Parts of its seaward side have long since collapsed but extensive earthworks and a deep rock-cut ditch, once spanned by a drawbridge, can still be examined.

Opening times

Due to access restrictions in place as a precautionary measure while we undertake high level masonry inspections, there is currently no visitor access to this site.

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