Balquhain Castle

Built in the 14th century by the Leslie family, Balquhain Castle served as the chief seat of this powerful Aberdeenshire clan for centuries. The castle gained historical significance when Mary Queen of Scots visited in 1562 during her royal progress through the northeast. Though now ruined, the remaining walls demonstrate the massive construction techniques of medieval Scotland and the Leslie family's prominent position among the nobility. The castle's strategic location west of Inverurie controlled important routes through the Garioch district.