Duffus Castle

The original seat of the de Moravia or Murray family, now represented by the ducal houses of Atholl and Sutherland. This is the finest example of a motte and bailey castle in the north of Scotland, and is unique by reason of the wide outer precinct ditch, enclosing eight acres, which surrounds the castle. About 1300 the bailey was walled in, and a great stone tower, of very fine workmanship, was erected on the mount, which has slipped under its weight, splitting the tower in two. Within the curtain are remains of a hall, reconstructed in the fifteenth century. Located at Old Duffus, three miles north-west of Elgin.