Tour Scotland Video Black Douglas Castle Moray

Tour Scotland video of Balvenie Castle located near Dufftown, in the heart of Speyside, Scotland. This Scottish castle was originally known as Mortlach, it was built in the 12th century by a branch of the powerful Comyn family, the Black Comyns, and extended and altered in the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle fell out of use in the early 14th century when the Comyns were reduced by Robert the Bruce. At some point in the 14th century the castle and the lordship of Balvenie passed into the earldom of Douglas. Nothing is documented as to how the Black Douglases first acquired the castle but the most likely account is that it came with the marriage of the heiress Joanna Murray to Archibald, the Grim, 3rd Earl of Douglas in 1362. His son and successor Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas granted his younger brother James, the Gross, the lordship of Balvenie in 1408. James's main residence was at Abercorn Castle, a coastal fortress to the west of Edinburgh and Balvenie Castle's use was as temporary accommodation when the need arose.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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