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Noltland Castle

Island of Westray, Orkney
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Count the gunholes dotting the exterior of this unique and imposing castle.

Noltland Castle was built for Gilbert Balfour, master of Mary Queen of Scots’ household, Sheriff of Orkney, Constable of Kirkwall Castle and a man who had need for strong defences.

Balfour was implicated in the murder of Cardinal Beaton at St Andrews and that of Mary’s second husband, Henry Lord Darnley.

After Mary’s arrest, Balfour retired to Noltland Castle, where the 71 gun holes that dot its walls would have provided him some reassurance. The castle is as much a fortress as it is a noble residence, though it seems it was never completed.

Distant view of Noltland Castle across grassy fields, with a wetland pond in the foreground and a bright blue sky.
Aerial view of Noltland Castle’s layout, including roofless stone halls, grass-filled courtyards, and the surrounding boundary walls.
Top-down aerial view showing the full footprint of Noltland Castle, including walls, interior partitions, and grassy surrounding grounds.

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A close-up shot if a wall in a chambered cairn. Flat, lichen-covered stones have been stacked on top of each other to create an ancient-looking but clearly very sturdy structure.

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