Dunnotar Castle, famous as the location for the film version of Hamlet starring Mel Gibson, is located 2 miles south of Stone haven on the North East coast. Because of the said film its outline became known worldwide. The film, however, does not do justice to the scale and finery of the ruins.

Many have visited the castle; it says that, it is not a tourist trap sanitised for out of the country consumption. This place is a history. When people feels the wind blowing from the North Sea as well as the waves whip around you, it can be very raw indeed.

From a car park on the Stonehaven to Montrose coast road, you will be able to reach the castle. Getting into a swing gate you walk down a causeway facing the ruins, and it is not until your top of the castle that you realize the scale and scope of it.

A huge rock sits with sheer cliffs all around and it is over a hundred feet above the sea. The walls are clustered on top of the rock like a badly fitting hat. With one population using the materials from those that came before, the buildings are various ages and a number of different kinds of rock have been used in their construction.

In the Iron Age in the 7th century there  was already a hill fort, where early Christian monks have visited. By Cromwell's army; the famous chapter in the Castle's long history came during a siege. When a small group of defenders held out and managed to the spirit Scottish Crown Jewels away from Cromwell's authority. In 1718 the castle was dismantled after the Jacobite uprising of 1715 and only in 1925 was repairs begun by Viscountes Cowdray, whose family still owns the castle today.

Present day tangible steps lead you down to the foot of the cliffs. Tourists find it overwhelming, and take  pictures from the cliff top, but to do this is to miss out the magic of the Dunnottar experience.

Reaching the bottom of the castle, you may even feel a chill when the castle looms over you, for the path at this point is almost always deep in shadow. A steep, ancient, set of steps leads you up to huge oak door and in to the castle proper where you will find a solitary guard sitting in a wooden hut. This is a do-it-yourself experience.

If by chance you actually take the higher stairs on your left, past the cave from which lions and bear used to be kept, you'll certainly go in a small room in which you can have a seat, sign the guestbook, and see some of the archeological finds which happen to found in the castle. You will find an exceptional view of the bay and all over cliffs from the small windowpane. From here, it is a higher climb up to the major level.

And once inside the castle proper, the said influential building to be seen is the 14th century have generated in 1392 by Sir William Keith, great Marischal of Scotland. In here you will have a real sense history of the place. There will be little crannies everywhere, and then you can step inside very large fireplaces and watch up the chimney to the sky far above.

A little bit of advice, you have to check for nesting birds first- these could get a bit anxious. Towards the south east of the keep are the stables and barracks, and when you follow the route all over you come to the most amazing protected part of the site, an elegant quadrangle. On the 17th century, this happens to be bounded on three sides by domestic building.  The castle's 13th century chapel a fourth side is formed. The remaining of the time that William Wallace burnt the early wooden castle with the occupying English garrison inside. One of the very few stone castles of that time, which is the chapel has survived to tell the tale and is still used, especially in a foreign country visitors, for wedding and functions.

The "Whig's Vault" a darker chapter in the history of Dunnottar, which can be found in the bowels of the quadrangle on the eastern side.  You can still see the gloomy, airless rooms, where in 1685, 167 sealed prisoners were held without food or sanitation from 24 May to the end of July. Everyone would like to take a walk down to the cell to see the view out of the back window where the sea lashes some exposed rocks.  Most of the people always avoid this room. There seems to be an air of misery hanging around  that attacks me deeply.

Generally there is much to see, from the smashing spherical well to historic ovens and brewery vats. There are spiral staircases that lead into banqueting rooms now open to the sky, and more amazing fireplaces to marvel at. The perspective all around is brilliant, whatever the weather, but I like it best when the wind is gusting and the spray is flying. The tends to be a lesser number of tourists on days like this, and a huge areas of the castle to yourself. Then you can visualize.

Your lifestyle back in the days of solemnity and glory. Just don't be attracted to paint your face blue and scream FREEDOM! All that'll get you is weird looks from the local people.

Take time to absorb the view when you finally seen the castle. The caves and inlets in its cliffs, and seals are regularly seen swimming there. You might be very lucky if you see a dolphins pass through.

Take a deep breath once you climbed back up the modern steps – you'll need it.

One thing is, you have to walk along the cliff path. Breathtaking cliff views and the chance to watch gulls nesting close up, In half an hour's walk the path takes you along to Stonehaven. There is always a gorgeous view across the breadth of Stonehaven harbour, and some public seats on which to rest your cautious limbs, but if you head down into the old harbour there are pubs and restaurants to help you recharge. Don't forget to visit the interesting shops in the town centre.