This dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress was the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. Steeped in history, this romantic and haunting ruin is a photographer’s paradise, a history lover’s dream and an iconic tourist destination for visitors the world over. It’s an impregnable fortress that holds many rich secrets of Scotland’s colourful past.

It is also the inspiration for Lachlan MacGregor’s castle in my novel “Of Magic and the Sea”, and these are the photos that prompted my descriptions.