Clunie Castle (1)
This is Clunie, a nice quiet corner of Perthshire on the edge of the Grampian Mountains between Dunkeld in Strath Tay (6 miles to the west), and Blairgowrie 4 miles to the east.

While it may be out of the way, there have been castles here for many centuries.  In the trees beyond the kirk there is a substantial castle hill or motte, said to have been the summer palace of King Kenneth McAlpin in the 9th century.  By the 13th century, there was a stone built castle and curtain wall on the hill.  Alexander II, King of the Scots, is recorded as residing in the castle in 1215, which was occupied by Edward I in 1296.

Ancient mottes are all very well, but what I have come to see, is out on that island in the loch.
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