Red Castle

Description

Redcastle – Restricted Access

Following a recent mound landslip in March 2021 at Redcastle, Angus Council surveyed the historic site and concluded that the recent slope failures between the north-eastern corner of the Redcastle tower and the bank of the Lunan Water present a present danger to the public, should there be further more catastrophic landslips, or should these landslips lead to the collapse of the Red Castle tower. As a consequence, safety fencing and warning signage has been erected and Angus Council are liaising with the landowner.

Access from the bank of Lunan Water is to be avoided. Get the best views of Red Castle Ruin from the Estuary at Lunan Water. Flying drones over and around Red Castle is not permitted without prior authorisation from the Red Castle landowner and should be avoid during the breeding season of the fulmars who nest in the ruin from early January to late September.

The nearest car parking to Red Castle is Lunan Bay car park on the North side of the Bay.

Built of red sandstone, the ruins of Red Castle date largely from the 15th Century. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of Montrose.

Red Castle stands on high ground overlooking Lunan Bay, on the North Sea coast. Only a part of the fifteenth century rectangular tower, and the 2-metre (6.6 ft) thick east curtain wall remain.

The castle is clearly visible from the A92 road and the Edinburgh to Aberdeen line. The remains are those of the 15th-century keep, and the surrounding wall, or enceinte, which may date from the 13th century. A midden below the castle is continually eroding, yielding a number of artefacts now in the Montrose Museum. The castle is protected as scheduled monument.

The property was forfeit during the reallocation by Robert the Bruce who in 1328 gave the castle to the Earl of Ross. The castle is referred to as rubeum castrum (Latin for Red Castle) in deeds of 1286, referring to its burnished red sandstone, typical of this area.