Rattray Castle (5)
This photo is the same as the previous one, but modified by me to demonstrate why Rattray Castle was sited here - the loch used to be an estuary - a natural and sheltered harbour, albeit a rather shallow one, ideal for fishermen to operate from, and the castle was sited to guard the channel leading into it.

Between the early to mid-13th and the early 14th century, the site was reoccupied, but assumed a more domestic role.  The new building on the motte was a well-built aisled hall, probably of timber-framed construction.  This phase of occupation appears to coincide with the Comyn ownership of the site and it is likely that it came to an end with the burning of the hall during Bruce's 'harrying of Buchan' in which he destroyed many of the Comyn possessions in I308.
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