Lonmay Castle

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The remains of the Castle of Lonmay are found near Netherton of Lonmay, to the north of Loch Strathbeg in Buchan, Scotland. The remains are not located in the modern village of Lonmay which is approximately 6 km to the south-west. It was described by W. Douglas Simpson as one of the nine castles of the Knuckle, referring to the rocky headland of North-East Aberdeenshire.{{cite journal |url=http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_083/83_032_044.pdf |title=Cairnbulg Castle, Aberdeenshire |journal=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |year=1949 |volume=83 |author=Simpson, W.D. |pages=32–44 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/archaeology/smr/smr_recdetails.asp?Rno=NK05NE0004&curpage=1&RefNo=&Name=&Mapsheet=&Period=*&Typ=&Typ2=&Typ3=&Parish=B06|title=Castle Hill, Rattray|accessdate=2007-06-11|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927030604/http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/archaeology/smr/smr_recdetails.asp?Rno=NK05NE0004&curpage=1&RefNo=&Name=&Mapsheet=&Period=*&Typ=&Typ2=&Typ3=&Parish=B06|archivedate=2007-09-27}}

Dating from the 13th century it was home to the Fraser family.Castles of Scotland, Martin Coventry

The castle "may have been a motte".{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/archaeology/smr/smr_recdetails.asp?Rno=NK06SE0003&curpage=35&RefNo=&Name=&Mapsheet=&Period=NE&Typ=&Typ2=&Typ3=&Parish=*|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927030854/http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/archaeology/smr/smr_recdetails.asp?Rno=NK06SE0003&curpage=35&RefNo=&Name=&Mapsheet=&Period=NE&Typ=&Typ2=&Typ3=&Parish=*|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2007|title=Castle of Lonmay|accessdate=2007-08-06}} It has long ceased to be in existence and there are very few remains to be found, all of which are buried under constantly shifting sand dunes that have over time engulfed the site.{{cite book |last1=McKean |first1=Charles |title=Banff & Buchan: An Illustrated Architectural Guide |date=1990 |publisher=Mainstream Publications Ltd. |location= |isbn=185158-231-2 |page=140}}

The castle provided protection to the north shore of the estuary{{cite web|url=http://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=43|title=An introduction to the Royal Burgh of Rattray|accessdate=2007-06-13|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517221437/http://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=43|archivedate=2007-05-17}} that used to flow into Strathbeg Bay, before it closed off forming Loch Strathbeg around 1720. The south-shore (with Starny Keppie harbour and the village of Rattray) was protected by the Castle of Rattray.

The remains are found "in the Links".. "near the sea"{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6RkvAAAAMAAJ&q=Lonmay+Castle&pg=PA224|title=The New Statistical Account of Scotland|author=Society for the Benefit of the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy|accessdate=2007-08-13|date=1845}} however "all the stones have been carried off, and employed in building farm-houses" and so "except the name, all tradition respecting this building is lost".