Sinclair and Girnigoe Castle Traditional Geocache
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Sinclair and Girnigoe Castle
A cache by [DELETED_USER]
Hidden
:
9/5/2013
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Cache is a traditional tub with log book and pen. Cache is placed near the entrance to Sinclair and Girnigoe Castle. A visit to the Castle is highly recommended as it is such a beautiful and important historic site.
Originally named just "Castle Girnigoe", it was built around the late 14th to early 15th centuries on a rocky promontory, and was defended on the landward side by great ditches, spanned by drawbridges. The castle was the home of the Sinclair family, Earls of Caithness. The main feature of this castle is a three or four storey tower house, completed towards the end of the 16th century although there are the remains of 15th century buildings beneath it. During a period of redevelopment at the castle in the early 17th century, George Sinclair (4th Earl) obtained an Act of Parliament to change the name from Castle Girnigoe to Castle Sinclair. However it appears that the name became associated with the newly remodeled part of the castle leading to the impression that there were two castles on the site. The Campbells of Glenorchy briefly occupied the castle after emerging victorious from a battle with the Sinclairs. In 1690, George Sinclair of Keiss, who later became the 7th Earl, removed the Cambells by force, partially destroying the castle by cannon fire in the process. In recent years the ownership of the castle has been returned to the Earls of Caithness, and is listed as the official seat of the Earldom. The castle is currently maintained by the Clan Sinclair Trust who are trying to preserve the dramatic ruins of the castle. The Clan Sinclair Trust collaborated with Historic Scotland, Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, the Highland Council, and the Heritage Lottery Fund and the World Monuments Fund in providing a grant in 2003 for the survey, documentation, and stabilization of the castle. The Castle is now fully open to the public. A short walk with various information boards along the way takes you to the castle entrance.
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