© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
The Bass and Little Bass is a motte-and-bailey castle located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, comprising two earthwork fortifications typical of Norman defensive architecture introduced to Scotland during the medieval period. The site consists of a primary motte, or artificial mound, accompanied by a smaller adjacent mound, both characteristic of early medieval castle design employed from the eleventh century onwards. The earthwork fortifications demonstrate the strategic importance of the location within Aberdeenshire during the medieval period, though the site has produced limited archaeological evidence regarding its precise dating or duration of occupation. Like many Scottish mottes, the Bass and Little Bass represents the spread of feudal fortification practices across the Scottish lowlands during the early medieval era.
The Bass and Little Bass, motte-and-bailey castle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM99. View the official record →
The Bass and Little Bass is a motte-and-bailey castle located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, comprising two earthwork fortifications typical of Norman defensive architecture introduced to Scotland during the medieval period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM99.
The Bass and Little Bass, motte-and-bailey castle dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte-and-bailey castle. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.
The Bass and Little Bass, motte-and-bailey castle 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 SM99.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Castle of Hallforest (5.2 km), Tuach Hill, stone circle and enclosure 130m SW of Gallow Top (5.3 km), Aberdeenshire Canal, remains of, NW of Brae of Kintore (5.4 km).
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around The Bass and Little Bass, motte-and-bailey castle