Dirlot Castle

Heritage listing

Date Added 14/02/1994 Supplementary Information Updated 06/03/2019 Type Secular: castle; linear earthwork, dyke Local Authority Highland Planning Authority Highland Parish Halkirk NGR ND 12609 48643 Coordinates 312609, 948643 — The monument consists of the remains of a medieval castle which may date from the fifteenth century. It occupies a steep sided rock outcrop on the W bank of the River Thurso. The outcrop, over 20m high, is naturally well defended with sheer drops on all sides. Access is easiest on the S side where the rock formations are block-like. The S side of the castle is defended by a curved stone and turf rampart (now with a central gap), about 2m high, extending 9m out from the base of the rock, measuring 25m NW-SE in length and approximately 8m in thickness. The castle occupies the N portion of the rock summit. Stretches of its outer wall-face are preserved on the S and E, while the S portion of the summit formed a courtyard which had a stone parapet. The rectangular keep measures 8.7m N-S by 5m over walls 0.7m thick. The courtyard is 9m N-S by 6m. Considerable amounts of stone have fallen from the S and E wall faces. An artificial platform of stones and earth appears to have been constructed along the E bank of the river to the S of the castle. The area to be scheduled is irregular, defined to the N and W by the foot of the cliff, to the E by the river bank, and extending S to a line running E-W, the nearest point of which is 20m S of the outer edge of the curved rampart, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.