The ruined remains of the Castle of Old Wick lie at the southern head of Wick Bay, 1¼ miles (2 km) south of Wick in the Caithness district, Highland Council Area. Also known as the Old Man of Wick or Castle Oliphant, it was probably Norse in origin, thought to have been built by Harald Maddason, the Earl of Caithness, in the 12th century. It has had numerous owners over the years; Sir Reginald de Cheyne claimed ownership in the 14th century followed by the Earl of Sutherland, the Oliphant family, the Earl of Caithness and the Dunbars of Hempriggs in the 1630s, who completed its building and owned it until it was abandoned in the 18th century. The castle was drawn in 1815 by William Daniell (1769 - 1837) with the resulting aquatint published in his Voyage Round Great Britain. Today, only three ruined walls remain which rise to three storeys in height and the castle has been taken under the protection of Historic Environment Scotland.
