CAIKNBULG CASTLK 309 THIRD PERIOD CAIRNBULG CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE. Cairnbulg Castle, about two miles distant from Fraserburgh, in a southern direction, towers above the waste of sandhills and bogs (now mostly reclaimed) with which it is surrounded. Close by is the deep sluggish water of Philorth, which doubtless proved useful as a defence to the castle from the west, and for supplying water to flood the moat which at one time evidently surrounded the mound on which it stands. The castle consists of buildings of two periods. There is first the large oblong keep, which probably dates at the earliest from the end of the fifteenth century, and the buildings of a later date, which have been so contrived as to convert Cairnbulg into a castle with diagonally opposite towers, the old keep being made available as one of these towers. The keep is oblong on plan, with a projection for the wheel staircase at the south-east end (Fig. 264). It measures 41 feet in length by 29 feet 8 inches along the west end, and along the east end and staircase projection it measures 40 feet, with walls from 6 feet to 7 feet thick. The entrance doorway (now built up) was from the ground level on the east side of the staircase turret. The ground floor, as also the first floor, are vaulted with pointed vaults. There is no access to the portions of the building above the first floor, the place being in great ruin and the staircase gone. The hall, which is on the first floor, measures 25 feet 4 inches by 16 feet 7 inches, and is well lighted by four windows. The entrance to the hall is in the recess of the large end window. The other three windows are provided with stone seats, and off the one in the south-west corner there is a mural chamber about 10 feet by 6 feet. In the opposite corner of the hall another mural chamber, 5 feet by 2 feet 9 inches, has a stone sink opening to the outside. The fireplace is in the west gable, opposite the entrance. It is quite plain, having merely a bead moulding round the jambs and lintel. We are unable to say where the original kitchen was. In the original castle there was evidently a curtain wall extending southwards from the face of the staircase wall for about 30 feet, and then running eastwards at right angles. On this wall have been built the later additions to the castle. The curtain wall was from 4 to 5 feet thick, and of great height, as seems to be indicated by a fragment of a row of small corbels seen high up on the east front (Fig. 265). The building of the second period, shown hatched on plan, measures PIG. 264. Cairnbulg Castle. Plan.
