Castle Sinclair Girnigoe

Fortress Sinclair On Scotland's Caithness coast, 3 miles north of Wick, is a place called Girnigoe. It is regarded as one of the clan Sinclair's early seats. Two castles' ruins may be found there: the early 17th-century Castle Sinclair and the 15th-century Castle Girnigoe. They've been given the status of the scheduled monument.

William Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness, constructed the first Castle Girnigoe, most likely between 1476 and 1496, but undoubtedly before his defeat at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The castle may have been constructed on the remains of an earlier fortification, according to some evidence.

John Sinclair, Master of Caithness, was detained at Castle Girnigoe in 1577 by George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness, who suspected him of inciting rebellion. He was imprisoned there for seven years, during which time his father gave him a diet of salted meat and no liquids, leading to his eventual thirst-induced insanity. In December 1594, Girnigoe was the location of the insurgent Earl of Bothwell. Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is one of the best castles in Scotland to visit.

Location: Wick, Caithness, Scotland