Rusko Castle

Rusko Castle is an early 16th-century simple rectangular tower house that stands four storeys high with attics. The ground floor features a double-height vaulted space with a timber mezzanine. In the 17th century, a two-storey addition with an attic was made to the north wall, but the shell of this wing was demolished around 1974 before significant restoration and alteration work was carried out on the tower.

The castle is constructed with rubble walling and squared quoins, and it has mainly simply chamfered openings for small, irregularly placed windows. The lintel mouldings of the windows are distinctive, being projecting and splayed, likely designed to protect against rainwater.

The main entrance is located on the east wall, featuring a checked-back depressed arch doorway with joggled voussoirs. Above the door is a weathered heraldic panel displaying two shields; the upper shield is supported by two unicorns, representing the Royal arms of Scotland, while the lower shield, which is much worn, appears to belong to the Gordon family and is dated 1565. A large depressed arch garage door was added around 1974, created from the connecting door of the now-demolished north wing.

Inside, a newel stair runs the full height of the tower in the southeast angle, leading up to a crowstepped cap house. The castle is topped with a corbelled machicolated parapet that includes projecting rainwater spouts, and it features a saddle-back roof with crowsteps and beak skewputts, along with tall coped end stacks.