The earliest record of Muchalls was in 1268 (when it was called Mukual). The name probably stems from the Gaelic word 'mucail' meaning '[place] of swine'.

A knot garden is a very formal design of garden in a square frame and grown with a variety of aromatic plants and culinary herbs. The original traces of the early 17th century knot garden at Muchalls Castle are still visible as undulations in the present day landscape.

Muchalls' answer to the Old Man of Hoy is the Auld Carl, which is often called the Old Man of Muchalls.