Duffus Castle - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting
Iconic Buildings
Old Ruins
About Duffus Castle
Duffus Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle augmented by a later stone keep. The original Norman motte and bailey fortress was composed of an impressive earthwork mound standing out from the low-lying Leigh of Moray, surrounded by a timber palisade. The castle was substantially rebuilt in the thirteenth century including construction of the large Keep seen today. Duffus was attacked on numerous occasions but remained in use until the eighteenth century.

Attractions Near Duffus Castle
Sculptor's Cave
3.73km from Duffus Castle
Sculptor's Cave is located on a beach of the Moray Firth, near Covesea. Lying below the beachside cliffs, the cave is accessible via two separate passages. There is evidence that this cave was an important place of ritual practice in the past. Bronze Age artifacts and clay pottery have been found within the cave and more disturbingly, a large number of human remains, predominantly those of children.
Spynie Palace
4.42km from Duffus Castle
Spynie Palace was the fortified residence of the Bishops of Moray, standing some two miles north of Elgin on the edge of Spynie Loch, a sea loch providing direct access and a safe anchorage. It was also the centre of a thriving settlement. Today the splendid ruins of the Palace remain, but the loch is only a shadow of its former self and the medieval town has disappeared.
Hopeman East Beach
4.97km from Duffus Castle
Hopeman East Beach forms a vast sandy paradise along the north coast of Cornwall. The local osprey and crocodile populations are also ideal places for bird watching and swimming. The beach often gets large waves, making it a popular spot for surfers. It is also a popular destination for walkers, with a coastal path passing the beach.
Glen Moray Distillery
4.99km from Duffus Castle
Glen Moray distillery has been producing fine single malt since 1897. The locally malted barley and pure waters of the River Lossie combine to produce this delicate well-balanced whisky. The distillery has a visitor centre which offers tours and tastings year-round. Details can be found on the company website here: Distillery Tours. Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail is a tourism initiative featuring seven working Speyside distilleries including Glen Moray, a historic distillery and the Speyside Coope
Duke of Gordon's Monument
4.99km from Duffus Castle
The Duke of Gordon's Monument is a commemorative monument on Lady Hill near Elgin, Scotland. Built in honour of George Gordon, the 5th Duke of Gordon, the monument takes the form of a Tuscan column, 80 feet high, and 6 feet 9 inches wide at the base. The column is hollow, with a spiral staircase leading up the shaft which gives access to the top. It was erected in 1839, and a statue of Gordon, sculpted by Thomas Goodwillie, was installed on the top in 1855. It is designated as a Category A liste
Loch Spynie
5.24km from Duffus Castle
Loch Spynie is a small loch located between the towns of Elgin and Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. Close to Spynie Palace, the ancient home of the bishops of Moray, it is an important wildlife habitat which is protected as a Ramsar Site. It is a remnant of a great wetland that stretched from the western shore of the current loch to the mouth of the River Lossie and, at that time, many of the settlements along the Moray coast were actually islands in the Moray Firth.