Scheduled MonumentsScotlandPeel Ring of Lumphanan, castle, Peel Bog of Lumphanan
Medieval · Castle, peel bog of lumphanan

Peel Ring of Lumphanan, castle, Peel Bog of Lumphanan

Scotland
HES SM90238
Period
Medieval
Site type
Castle, peel bog of lumphanan
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Peel Ring of Lumphanan is a motte-and-bailey castle situated in Peel Bog, near the village of Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The monument consists of a substantial earthen mound surrounded by a ditch and outer banks, characteristic of twelfth-century Norman fortification techniques introduced to Scotland in the medieval period. The site is traditionally associated with Macbeth, the eleventh-century King of Scotland, though this attribution remains legendary rather than archaeologically verified. The castle represents an important example of early medieval military architecture in north-east Scotland, reflecting the period of feudal settlement and the establishment of motte-and-bailey strongholds by Anglo-Norman lords in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

Peel Ring of Lumphanan, castle, Peel Bog of Lumphanan is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90238. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Peel Ring of Lumphanan, castle, Peel Bog of Lumphanan?

Peel Ring of Lumphanan is a motte-and-bailey castle situated in Peel Bog, near the village of Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90238.

What period does Peel Ring of Lumphanan, castle, Peel Bog of Lumphanan date from?

Peel Ring of Lumphanan, castle, Peel Bog of Lumphanan dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a castle, peel bog of lumphanan. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Peel Ring of Lumphanan, castle, Peel Bog of Lumphanan?

Peel Ring of Lumphanan, castle, Peel Bog of Lumphanan is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90238.

What other scheduled monuments are near Peel Ring of Lumphanan, castle, Peel Bog of Lumphanan?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Macbeth's Cairn, cairn 360m ENE of Ferneybrae (1.7 km), Kincardine o'Neil, old church and hospital (4.4 km), Corse Castle (4.6 km).

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