Dovecot, Balbegno Castle is a Grade A listed building in the Aberdeenshire local planning authority area, Scotland. First listed on 18 August 1972.

Dovecot, Balbegno Castle

WRENN ID
forbidden-foundation-fern
Grade
A
Local Planning Authority
Aberdeenshire
Constituency
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP: Andrew Bowie (Con)
Country
Scotland
Date first listed
18 August 1972
OS grid reference
NO 640 729
Coordinates
56.84694, -2.59148
Source
Historic Environment Scotland listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

This is a 17th-century dovecot located within the grounds of Balbegno Castle. The structure is rectangular, measuring 18 feet 9 inches by 16 feet 4 inches, and is built of red rubble stone. A distinct rat-course is visible. The pitched roof is stone slated and features crowsteps. The dovecot has an entrance in its west gable. The original pigeon boxes have been removed.

The building is given Category A group value in recognition of its significance as part of the surrounding historic landscape and its relationship to other structures at Balbegno Castle (items 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 on the list). Further information can be found in Niven Robertson's "Old Dovecotes," page 343.

Local climate

Dovecot, Balbegno Castle sits in a wetter-than-average part of the UK, with an average of 960 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 75% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 64% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 33 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 56% of listed buildings. Of these, 18 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

More on this building

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Nearby listed buildings

  1. Balbegno Castle Grade A 82 m
  2. Garden With Terrace Walls And Gate-Piers, Balbegno Castle Grade A 85 m
  3. Farmsteading, Mains Of Balbegno Grade C 164 m
  4. Farmhouse, Mains Of Balbegno Grade B 173 m
  5. Stable Block And Coachhouses, Balbegno Castle Grade B 178 m
  6. Ramsay Place, Fettercairn Grade B 1.0 km
  7. Ramsay Arms Hotel, Fettercairn Grade B 1.0 km
  8. Royal Arch, Main Street, Fettercairn Grade B 1.1 km
  9. Bridge, Burn Of Cauldcots, Royal Arch, Fettercairn Grade C 1.1 km
  10. Glengowan, Main Street, Fettercairn Grade C 1.1 km