Freswick Castle

Freswick Castle is built on a low rise of land overlooking Freswick Bay. It is an occupied T-plan tower house of two or more phases, dating to the 16th century when the lands of Freswick were held separately from the adjacent barony of Burnside. The castle is in fact the old tower of Burnside, renamed.

The tower and lands exchanged hands with alarming regularity, but it seems that the tower was the combined work of the Sinclair earls of Caithness and the Mowat family of Buchollie, although there may have been an earlier castle here consisting of a courtyard defended by a ditch. The 17th century saw repeated extensions of the building and the creation of a large formal garden area, and from this point onwards the castle drops out of history, remaining in the hands of the Sinclairs until the early 20th century by which time it was in disrepair. The castle is at the time of writing undergoing restoration and is available for let as well as a private home.

HES Canmore database entry

Freswick Castle official website