Where in Moray?
Duffus Castle was occupied for more than 500 years, from the 1100s onwards.
It was probably built in 1130 on the orders of King David I of Scotland following the death in battle of Óengus, the last king of Moray
Originally it was what's known as a motte and bailey fortification.
This consisted of a wooden tower situated on a mound of earth overlooking the Laich of Moray, which at the time was underwater but is now a large stretch of flat, agricultural land.
Surrounded by a wall of wooden stakes, it would have been relatively easy to build with unskilled labour, but still militarily formidable.
However this structure was replaced at some point during the 1300s by the stone castle we can still see today.
Once one of Scotland's strongest defensive sites, Duffus Castle had been reduced to a decaying ruin by the time it was finally abandoned in 1705.
Hazel Thomson kindly sent us this photo.
If you have an image featuring Moray that you're happy to share, send it to newsdesk@northern-scot.co.uk
