Observatory, Pitfour House Estate
Image: Wikimedia Commons
An octagonal tower stands on the former Pitfour Estate in the Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland — a striking building known today simply as the Pitfour Observatory.
About the Pitfour Estate Observatory
The tower rises 50 feet (15 metres) over three storeys, topped with a crenellated parapet and finished with square windows on its upper floor. It sits on a hilltop more than a kilometre from the estate's former racecourse, at an elevation of around 396 feet (121 metres).
History
Built in the 18th or 19th century, the tower was originally used to watch horse racing on the Pitfour racecourse below rather than for astronomical observing — the track itself has since reverted to forest. The building fell into disrepair before being fully renovated in 1983 by Banff & Buchan District Council, the predecessor of today's Aberdeenshire Council.
Location & getting there
The tower stands on the former Pitfour Estate in the Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, on a hilltop setting.
Visiting the Pitfour Estate Observatory
The tower is accessible to the public. Check with Aberdeenshire Council or local walking route guides for current access details before visiting.
See your named star from here
A tower once built to watch a racecourse now makes an evocative stop for thinking about the stars above it. A star named through Star Register comes with exact coordinates that any telescope, anywhere, can be pointed toward. Name a star or browse the catalogue.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
