A defensive structure was first built at Inverugie by the Cheyne (Le Chen) family in the 13th or 14th century. In 1345, following the death of
Reginald le Chen, Baron Inverugie, the
estate of Inverugie was passed onto the Keith
Earl Marischals, who had their main seat at the coastal fortress of
Dunnottar Castle (via marriage of Edward Keith and the heiress Marjory, daughter of Reginald le Chen and Helen de Strathearn). Around 1660, the Keiths built what is the current, but now ruined, castle, lying south of the original wooden motte. In the 19th century, an oak
heraldry shield was found in a local cottage with the arms of
William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal and its date was carved as 1660. By 1890, the castle was in poor condition and was unable to withstand inclement weather. In April 1890, strong winds caused the collapse of some walls and the stair tower. It was declared unsafe by the Local Authority following further storms on New Years Day 1899. The estate factor, William Ainslie, probably acting under instruction from the Laird at that time, arranged to have much of what was left of the ruins blown up, weakening the remaining structure. Within a fortnight, little remained of the castle.
Charles McKean described the castle as "a splendid double-courtyard Renaissance chateau [consisting] of a four-storey block with circular angle towers and a stair turret".
William Burnes or William Burness (1721 – 1784), the father of
Robert Burns the poet, was born at Clochnahill Farm, Dunnottar, and trained as a gardener at Inverugie Castle, before moving to Ayrshire. == References ==