Corse Castle

Corse Castle is a roofless ruin near Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire, three miles north-west of Lumphanan beside the Corse Burn. Built in 1581 by William Forbes, father of Bishop Patrick Forbes of Aberdeen, the castle features an unusual L and Z-plan design with L-shaped blocks and round stair and corner towers. According to local tradition, Forbes vowed to build a theft-proof stronghold after bandits destroyed an earlier house on the site. Abandoned by the 19th century for nearby Corse House, the castle remains a testament to Forbes family prominence in north-east Scotland.