Castlegate was Aberdeen's medieval marketplace and site of public execution from 1776

Castlegate hides many secrets – it was once the place of public execution, the ‘Gibbet Stane’ reveals the site of the gallows; it was the market place, made more genteel by the addition of the 17th century stone Mercat Cross.

Many famous citizens lived here and caused great trouble, including men like the 5th Earl Marischal, George Keith, who founded Marischal College; Gilbert Menzies of Pitfodels, who had a great town house next to the Keiths, and who, like many members of his family, was Provost of Aberdeen and ‘Skipper’ Scott, a famous sea captain and Jacobite, who entertained the Old Pretender, James III, in his house which was later to become the home of dancing master, Thomas Peacock of Peacock’s Close. See the site of Archdeacon John Barbour’s house, the man who wrote “the Brus”, an epic poem on the Scottish Wars of Independence.  Learn more about the "Mannie" Well and John Ewen who owned the original department store where the Athenaeum now stands.  Come along with us and discover more about the old Castlegate.

Circular route around Castlegate/Plainstanes/Town House/Tolbooth/ Gordon Highlanders’ Statue 
 
Start: Market Cross, Castlegate near La Lombarda Restaurant 
End: Gordon Highlanders’ Statue
Length: 1.16 miles
Terrain: pavements only