CHAP. iv. CAITHNESS OLD CASTLES. 31 



Stroma, the island in the current, and of the Orkney 

 Islands as far as the bold headland of Hoy. 



Along the east coast, numberless castles are built 

 upon the cliffs. They are mostly in ruins. Many ot 

 them are prehistoric. Wick Castle, Girnigo Castle, 

 and Keiss Castle, are the oldest. No one knows who 

 built them. Most probably they are the strongholds of 

 the Scandinavian chiefs, who, at some unknown period, 

 took possession of the lowland part of the county. 



The castle of Al-Wick or, as it is usually called, the 

 Auld Man of Wick seems to be one of the most ancient. 

 It consists of a grim-looking tower or keep of the rudest 

 masonry, perforated here and there with arrow -slits. 

 It is three stories high; but entirely roofless and floorless. 

 It is surrounded by an outer wall, within which are the 

 ruins of some old houses. A deep broad. moat defends 

 it on the land side. At present, it forms an excellent 

 landmark to vessels approaching that part of the coast. 



Girnigo Castle, situated on the promontory of Noss 

 Head, is also very old. Castle Sinclair, which was added 

 to it, has a history, which Girnigo has not. But the 

 old builders were so much better than the new ones, 

 that while Castle Sinclair has fallen to ruins, Girnigo 

 Castle stands as firmly as it did at the time at which it 

 was built. 



The constantly rolling sea, ever for ever, washes itself 

 against the rocks, grinding away the softest parts. 

 The red sandstone goes first, leaving long hollows 

 amongst the slates, through which the sea drives in- 

 land. In stormy weather, the waves wash in with 



