The Tolbooth, Stonehaven, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Tolbooth is a stone building on the Old Pier at Stonehaven harbour in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and one of the oldest structures in the town. It dates from the late 16th century and has served as a storehouse, a prison and a local landmark on the quayside.

The story behind it

The Tolbooth is traditionally linked to the Earls Marischal, the powerful family whose seat was nearby Dunnottar Castle. It is generally described as having been built as a storehouse for their goods at a time when the harbour was the heart of the settlement. The building is Stonehaven's best surviving reminder of its early days as a working port.

Over the centuries it took on a harsher role. It was used as a prison, and it is associated with the 17th century, when Covenanters, Scots who resisted royal control of the church, were held in the area. Like many Scottish tolbooths, it stood for local authority as well as trade. Today it is a quieter place, with a harbourside setting that is easy to enjoy.

What to look for

• The thick, rough stone walls and small windows give a clear sense of a building made for storage and security, not comfort.
• The position right on the quayside shows how closely the building was tied to the harbour and the boats that came and went.
• The stepped, gabled outline of the roof stands out against the more modern buildings that line the harbour.
• Look across the water to the curve of the bay and the old harbour wall, a view that has changed less than you might expect.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the building and the harbour, longer if you stop to eat or watch the boats.
• Late afternoon often gives the best light on the stonework and the water, and the harbour is calmer than in the middle of the day.
• Part of the building has been used as a restaurant and part as a small local museum, so check current opening hours before planning to go inside.
• The beach, the promenade and the old town are all within a short walk, and Dunnottar Castle lies a little way south of the town.

Explore it on a quest

Stonehaven rewards slow walking, and the Tolbooth is best seen as one stop among the harbour, the seafront and the old streets. Discover the area on one of Questo's self-guided quests: you follow the route on your phone, hear about each place as you reach it and solve a puzzle in what is in front of you. Browse the quests in Stonehaven and start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.