Scottish medieval history aficionados, we come bearing very good news indeed. The Castle of Old Wick, a striking four-storey coastal tower that dates back hundreds of years, has officially reopened to visitors.
Also known locally as the ‘Old Man of Wick’, the structure can be found near Wick in Scotland’s far northeast. The tower sits on a narrow, dramatic headland looking out over the crashing North Sea.
In recent years, however, visitors to the Castle of Old Wick haven’t been able to get up-close with the tower. As part of Historic Environment Scotland (HES)’s programme to assess all the sites in its estate, the John O’Groat Journal reported that access to the castle had been limited for nearly four years.
While tradition dictates that the Old Man of Wick dates back to Earl Harald Maddadsson in the 1100s, the current structure dates back to the 14th century. Given the castle’s age and blustery, exposed location, HES needed to gauge the safety of the site and make sure it’s still safe for visitors to explore.
An inspection of the Old Man’s masonry and stonework in October was followed by minor repairs by specialist teams. The works were undertaken by hand, making use of scaffolding and ropes.
Commenting on the works, HES’s Sian Evans said: ‘The “Old Man of Wick” is one of Caithness’ most striking medieval sites, a much-loved landmark for both locals and visitors, who I hope will enjoy visiting the site and exploring its history.’
The castle is free to visit and open all year-round. Find out more about visiting on the HES site page here.
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