HISTORY - DRUMIN CASTLE - CASTLE O' DRUMIN

Sited on a terrace above the junction of the Rivers Livet and Avon (pronounced A'an), the ruins of Drumin Castle occupy a natural strategic site. While quiet and peaceful today the strategic nature of this location was not lost on mediaeval castle builders anxious to ensure that their fortified position provided maximum opportunity for protection against marauders and thieves, while offering easy control of any movement or traffic in the surrounding countryside. Situated close to where the River Livet meets the river Avon , high upon a river terrace, long abandoned by the Avon as it cut its way through sediments left at the end of the last ice-age, Drumin Castle is reputedly a former lair of the notorious ‘Wolf of Badenoch’ , Alexander Stewart, one of the most evil characters in Scottish history.

Few records of the Castle’s history have survived and the exact date of construction is unknown. King Robert II granted the lands of Badenoch and Strathavon (including Drumin) to his son Alexander Stewart in the early 1370’s. It is thought that the Castle was built around that time on the site of previous fortifications which may originally have been an Iron Age Dun. Certainly Alexander had the power and resources to construct such an impressive fortification – Drumin Castle walls are around 2 m thick!

Alexander Stewart (1342-1406), Earl of Buchan is remembered for his temper and harsh justice. In particular he was responsible for the sacking and burning of Elgin Cathedral in 1390, as a result of a long term feud with the Bishop of Moray. Along with Drumin, he also occupied the island strongholds of Lochindorb (near Grantown on Spey) and Loch-an-Eilean (near Aviemore). It is thought he spent more time at these other fortresses than at Drumin during his iron-fisted rule of this north east corner of Scotland.

The Wolf’s grandson Sir Walter Stewart subsequently fell heir to the Castle. In 1490, exactly 100 years after the sacking of Elgin he passed the Castle and all of the lands pertaining to Drumin to Alexander, 3rd Earl of Huntly. The Earl did not reside at Drumin, leaving his son Alexander Gordon and later in 1546 the Grants of Freuchie to act as his bailies and to manage the Gordon affairs in Badenoch and Strathavon. At different times after 1490 the Castle continued to be occupied by the Stewart family up to the mid Eighteenth Century but only as tenants. Charles Stewart of Drumin is thought to have been the last resident of the Castle, which is presumed to have fallen into disuse about this time. In 1818-19 a new house (now the present farmhouse) was built at Drumin for William Mitchell factor to the Duke of Gordon. Much of the stone from the Castle ruins would have been used in the construction of the house and the adjoining steadings. The only other notable reference to the Castle in the intervening period was that the Marquis of Argyll stopped here with his army before the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594.

Between 1999-2003 The Crown Estate with grant aid from Historic Scotland stabilised the Castle ruins which are now open to the public. We hope you enjoy exploring this fascinating landmark and experience a sense of its considerable history. A local poem does much to illustrate the mysteries that behind the 2 meter thick walls.

THE CASTLE O’DRUMIN

By Alexander Grant MBE MM
(from a collection by Henrietta Milne)

Near the meetin’ o’ the waters

Where the Livet joins the A’an

Stands Drumin’s auld ruined Castle

Guardian o’ the neeborin’ lan’.

Hoary ruin; In yer story

Dark as Livet’s peaty stream

Are some pages, but yer glory

Gi’es an antrim brilliant gleam.

As ye brood o’er A’an’s clear waters

In the munelichts silver glow

Does the Wild Wolf, Badenoch’s Maister,

Pass in pursuit o’ his foe?

Son o’ Scotland ’s king, a wild ane,

In his day his name spak fear

Tae mony a ane outside his lairdship,

Bishop, commons, prince an’ peer

Lang he’s gane, but still ye ponder,

Tooerin’ owre yer kindly trees

Does his war-cry still rise round ye

In the winter’s snell, cauld, breeze?

Mony a ane has gaithered near ye

Since ye first rose on yer hicht,

But, altho’ yersel’ man’s hand-work

Ye hae gaen them a’ guid-nicht.

There ye stand in peaceful silence,

Gane the clansmen’s wild array,

Quate the wa’s within wha’s shelter

Men made plans tae steal and slay.

Changed days now; The noise o’ battle

Ower the hills has rolled and died.

Livet’s Glen’s a’ but deserted

By the race that was its pride.

But yer wa’s can preach a moral

As they stand majestic there

They hae weathered mony a winter,

Can the folk nae houp and dare?

Brichter days are surely comin’

Stoot hearts they breas aye can climb,

Can Glenlivet nae tak’ courage

Fae the Castle o’ Drumin?

If you wish to explore the area around the castle a little further another enjoyable walk can be followed around the ruins and in the adjacent walled garden. Please park in the lower car park beside the River Livet where several paths can be used to gain access to the embankment on the north side of the castle and to follow riverside walks alongside both the Avon and the Livet.

A whisky smuggler

Glenlivet welcomes you to explore its tracks and byways.