Callum the Castle'saurus

       Callum made it to Helmsley Castle! The first castle on the site was built around 1120. It was constructed of wood.  In 1186 Robert de Roos, a relative of the original owner started work on converting the castle into a stone building. William's son, Robert, inherited the castle and was Lord of Helmsley from 1258 to 1285. His marriage to Isabel d'Aubigny (heiress to  Belvoir Castle ) funded the building of the new hall and kitchen, as well as strengthening the castle. The castle remained in the de Roos family until 1478 and between them the family members were responsible for building the castle's, towers, gateways, chapel and defenses. In the southern part they built a new hall and the east tower in an area used as exclusively for the family; now granted the title 'Lords of Helmsley', and the northern half with the old hall was used by the castle's stewards and officials. In 1478 the castle was sold to Richard, Duke of Gloucester; later Richard III, althou

Slains Castle is a large imposing ruin fronting directly onto south facing cliffs about a kilometer east of Cruden Bay.  Callum is so excited it was a very long walk!  There are, confusingly, two Slains Castles on this stretch of coast. The original lay a mile north east of Collieston and about six miles south west of its successor. This was built in the 1200s as a fortress. But in 1594 the owner, the Earl of Erroll backed a plot by the Earl of Huntly against King James VI. James responded by blowing up Old Slains Castle, and not much remains today.   This would be a great place to put a zip line. Callum would like to know why there are no zip lines at this castle? The Earl of Erroll returned from exile in 1597 and made his peace with James. Rather than try to rebuild Slains, he instead used a tower house at Bowness as the basis for a new Slains Castle. The tower was extended and ranges of buildings were added around a courtyard. In 1664 the castle was again expanded and altered, and a

Callum found Boyne Castle! This is definitely going to be Callum's room. Boyne Castle is a large and very overgrown 16th century courtyard castle.  There remains a stone lined ditch and walled causeway, with a range of internal buildings up to three storey in height. In its day there would have been manicured gardens and fine orchards, in place of the thick thorns, brambles and ivy that now cover its crumbling walls. The approach to the castle from the south is through the gardens and orchards, of which some of the walls still remain.  The moat is crossed by a causeway on the level of the principal entrance which is in the centre of the south front.  The gateway is flanked by two cirular towers, and was no doubt protected by a drawbridge in the raised causeway. Unfortunately, the castle was abandoned in 1723.  Callum can not understand why anyone would want to abandon such an amazing castle! Boyne Castle is protected on three sides by the Boyne Water, and on the south side by a dry

Having made his way accross the water, Callum was delighted to see he was on the right road. Cubbie Roo's Castle is the old stronghold of a Norse chieftain, built around 1145. Found in small and peaceful island of Wyre, the castle provides a reminder that things probably weren't always so quiet around here when the Vikings were present in Orkney. Cubbie Roo's Castle is one of the oldest examples of its type in Scotland. Built as the base for a Viking named Kolbein Hruga, it's thought the structure could have been three storeys high, commanding strategic views out over Gairsay Sound and the surrounding approaches. The walls are nearly two metres thick and there are ramparts, ditches and stone walls too, highlighting how strong the defences here were. Perhaps this is why it's thought Kolbein Hruga never had to defend his castle. Historians believe one of his descendants did however survive a long siege at the site around a century after his death. Cubbie Roo's Cas

Callum was so excited to go out on an adventure this morning.  He had looked up Yesnaby Castle on the map and he couldn't wait to discover what it might look like. It was a long journey, but once he found the map - he was sure he was on the right track.  Yesnaby has lots of rock and land forms along the cliffs, which look amazing and are great places for birds to nest. And even tiny purple flowers to grow.  What strong flowers to grow on sea beaten rocks! There are all kinds of birds that live along these cliffs: Puffins, Terns, Arctic Skua, Gannets, and even Fulmars. Fulmars are funny birds.  Did you know that if you sneak up on a fulmar they will projectile vomit at you! Fulmars like to sleep on the ground, and vomiting is their way of saying, ''Don't step on me!'' 400 million years ago, 150 million years before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, the north sea - the water behind Callum - was partly desert! During the Second World War an anti-aircraft battery was buil