Straton Clan -- Lauriston Castle & Pictish Kings

Lauriston Castle was held by the Straton family for nearly 450 years, but the site long pre-dates this clan, for which I found no family plaid listed with the Scottish Register of Tartans. Located near the village of St. Cyrus in Aberdeenshire, Lauriston Castle is atop a cliff about a mile inland from the North Sea. It is considered “one of the oldest privately owned and inhabited castles in the region”, according to the Wikipedia entry. Traditionally, it was thought that one of the last Pictish kings, Giric, Grig or Gregory the Great, called it home, as well as founding a church and village nearby. The Lauriston family’s first charter is said to date to 1243, and the structure is considered a classic courtyard castle. Through the course of centuries the castle was naturally involved with the swirling feuds and wars and was used by the English Plantagenet King Edward III. It was a military barracks during World War II. In normal times, the castle has been open for tours. Even during the pandemic, the grounds remain open. #scotland #scottish #customgifts #scottishgiftshop #personalizedgifts #scotlandxmas #scottishChristmas