Noltland Castle

🏰 Castles of Scotland: The Fortified Refuge

If you’re hopping over to the "Queen of the Isles" Westray in Orkney, you’ll find one of the most uniquely defended buildings in Scotland. Noltland Castle doesn't just look like a noble tower house; it looks like a fortress that expected to be attacked at any moment. And given its original owner, it’s easy to see why!

📍 Location

• Where is it? Situated just outside the village of Pierowall on the island of Westray, Orkney.
• Setting: It overlooks the magnificent Pierowall Bay, which was one of the finest natural harbors in the Northern Isles.
• Coordinates: 59.317N, 2.997W
• ///centrally.incorrect.constrain
• Van Access: You’ll need to take the inter-island ferry from Kirkwall (or Eday) to Westray. Westray is a fantastic island to drive around, and the road to Noltland is straightforward. There is parking nearby, and the castle is a short walk from the main road.

📜 A Timeline of History and Inhabitants

This isn't a story of peaceful lords and ladies; it’s a story of political assassination and survival.

1. The Builder: Gilbert Balfour (1560–1574)

• The Man: The castle was built by Gilbert Balfour, a man who served as Master of Mary, Queen of Scots' household.
• The "Dangerous" Life: Balfour was no saint. He was famously implicated in the murder of Cardinal Beaton in 1546 and the assassination of Lord Darnley (Mary’s second husband) in 1567.
• The "Blood" Inscription: Over the entrance, he carved a terrifying passage from Exodus: "When I see the blood, I will pass over you in the night." It’s a chilling insight into a man who spent his life looking over his shoulder.

2. A Fortress for a Fugitive

• After Mary, Queen of Scots was arrested in 1567, Balfour fled to Westray. He turned Noltland into a defensive powerhouse—it features 71 gun holes (loop-holes) in its 7-foot thick walls. It was designed so that no matter where an attacker came from, they would be staring down the barrel of a cannon or musket.

3. Later Tumult

• The castle was never truly "finished." It was seized by Lord Robert Stewart in 1572. Over the following centuries, it was caught in the crossfire of Scottish history, being set on fire by Covenanters in the 1650s and again by Hanoverian forces in 1745.

👑 Significance in History and Politics

Noltland Castle is a direct link to the most chaotic years of the Scottish Reformation and the fall of the House of Stuart.

• Political Sanctuary: It represents the desperate measures taken by those loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots. When the "political ground" in Edinburgh became too hot, the far-flung islands of Orkney became the final refuge for the Queen's inner circle.
• The Evolution of Defense: Noltland is a textbook example of the transition from a traditional "tower house" to an "artillery fortress." It shows how 16th-century lords had to adapt their architecture to account for the new, deadly reality of gunpowder.
• Orkney’s Strategic Importance: Holding the Pierowall harbour meant controlling a vital maritime gateway between the Atlantic and the North Sea. Balfour’s choice of location proves that even in the 1500s, the Northern Isles were a crucial piece of the British political chessboard.

📸 Johnny’s "Creator" Tip:

Get up close to the wall! You can actually walk the perimeter and count those 71 gun holes. It’s a surreal experience when you realize they are all angled to cover every square inch of the approach to the castle. It’s an incredible backdrop for a "history vlog" segment.

Would you have felt safe hiding in a castle built by a man like Gilbert Balfour, or would you have been looking for the nearest exit? Let me know in the comments! 🚐🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👇

#CastlesOfScotland #NoltlandCastle #Westray #Orkney #ScottishHistory #MaryQueenOfScots #MotorhomeTouringScotland #JohnnyBurr #IslandLife

 

 

For more of the Castles of Scotland series visit:

https://castlesinscotland.blogspot.com

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noltland_Castle

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