Castle Stuart

Castle Stuart on the Moray Firth is perhaps the grandest tower house to be built in the Highlands in the 17th century. This is perhaps not surprising as it is owned by the Earls of Moray whose ancestor James Stewart, later Regent of Scotland, was given this land by Mary Queen of Scots his half sister. Two square towers protect the main entrance and watchtowers cover the back. An Earl's coronet in stone caps the west tower.

The honeymoon suite at the top of the East tower is haunted. In the 18th century, the Earl of Moray offered a reward to anyone who would spend a night in the room, just to prove that it was NOT haunted. The local poacher, known as çBig Angus» feared neither man nor beast and took up the challenge. Next day he was found dead in the courtyard below, a look of horror on his face. So did he jump or was he pushed?

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Blair Castle

Blair is a wonderful building. The heart of it is 13th century - and there for all to see, a vaulted basement still supporting the16th century L-plan house at the angle of the present castle. The wings are relatively modern: 17th century!

This is the original seat of the Blair family - well documented as friends of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Even earlier, the castle was briefly home to King John I's daughter, Isabel

A private house until very recently, it has been recently refurbished Both the public rooms and the bedrooms are quite beautifully presented. The whole is run by the meticulous hand of the owner Lina Borwick.

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