Urquhart Castle (HS)

One of the largest castles in Scotland, Urquhart sits on a rocky promontory on the shores of Loch Ness. This spectacular site was of major importance to those who sought to control the Great Glen – the important route that linked Argyll and the south-west with Inverness and the north-east.

There has been a castle on this spot since the 13th century. Besieged and fought over many times, few traces remain of early fortifications. In 1509 the castle and its surrounding lands came into the ownership of the Grants of Freuchie. Later that century, after the castle had been sacked a further couple of times, the Grants carried out major repairs including the construction of the prominent tower house.

By 1600 the days of the castle as a noble residence were drawing to a close. Landowners were building better residencies in more acceptable locations. The rocky, windswept promontory by Loch Ness no longer held any attractions for the Grants.

The castle was briefly garrisoned in the 1690s. When the troops left they blew up some buildings to ensure that the castle was longer tenable.