Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is located on the rugged coast of Caithness in Scottish Highlands. Perched dramatically on cliffs overlooking the North Sea, this castle has a rich history dating back to the 15th century and was the family seat of Clan Sinclair, one of the most powerful clans in Scotland.

In 1577, George Sinclair, the 4th Earl of Caithness, imprisoned his own son John, Master of Caithness, in Castle Girnigoe, on suspicion of rebelling against his rule. He was held there for seven years, after which his father fed him a diet of salted beef, with nothing to drink, so that he eventually died insane from thirst.

The 5th Earl of Caithness rebuilt large parts of the castle in the early 1600s, and in 1651 it was seized by Cromwell’s troops and used as his major stronghold in the North for nine years. The 6th Earl sold the land and the title to a cousin, Campbell of Glenorchy. As a result of this exchange, a dispute arose between Glenorchy and the remaining Sinclairs over these rights, which resulted in the last clan battle at Altimarlach, near Wick. It was about then that the castle became ruined and has remained so ever since.

The complex passed out of the Sinclair family but was bought back in the 1950s and donated to a trust set up for its preservation in 1999.

WMF listed the castle on the 2002 Watch. The listing increased public awareness of the site and concern for its survival. In collaboration with the Clan Sinclair Trust, Historic Scotland, Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, the Highland Council, and the Heritage Lottery Fund, WMF provided a grant in 2003 through the Kress Foundation and the Wilson Challenge for the survey, documentation, and stabilization of the castle.