Brunstane Castle

Brunstane Castle is a ruined tower house and courtyard built for the Crichton family in the mid 16th century. It is set at the top of a steep bank overlooking the River North Esk and surrounded by boggy ground. The buildings are in a poor state of repair and unmaintained – and should really be considered unsafe.

Brunstane was held by the Crichtons in the reign of David II, and by a junior branch of the main family. It is likely there was an earlier defensive manor here, but the tower house was probably erected early in the reign of Queen Mary, deroofed at the order of the Regent Arran, and then repaired in 1568, reflected by the datestone. In the late 16th and early 17th century the estate was broken up and sold, with the castle passing to John Maitland of Thirlestane. It was probably tenanted or used as a dower property, and its ultimate fate is unrecorded, although deliberate slighting in the Jacobite period seems probable.

HES Canmore database entry