Braemar Castle **

Region: Aberdeen(shire) & Moray

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Description:

Braemar Castle, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, is relatively young (as castles go). A compact grey building with a somewhat ´high tech´ feel to it (from a distance that is). Built in 1628 by John Erskine, 2^nd Earl of Mar, specifically as a bulwark against the Farquharsons. It was nevertheless attacked, taken and ´for safety reasons´ burned in 1689 on behalf of the Jacobite general John Graham of Claverhouse. After the ´15´ the Farquharsons bought the ruins from the 8th Earl of Mar and later leased it to the Hanoverian government. The government, using the castle as an outpost in mainly Jacobite country fifty years onwards, had the ruins restored and converted it to a true fortress.