Photo: Cawdor Castle by Lesbardd, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About this place
Cawdor Castle's medieval tower dates from 1454, built according to family tradition around a holly tree said to mark the spot a dream instructed the first Thane to build on.
The castle stands in the parish of Cawdor near Nairn in the Scottish Highlands and has been home to the Campbell family for more than 600 years.
It has three distinct gardens, unusual for a Scottish castle, each shaped by successive generations of owners.
The property opens to visitors each year.
Read more on WikipediaHistory
The castle was originally held by the Calder family before passing to the Campbells in the 16th century, who still own it today. It is currently home to Angelika Campbell, Dowager Countess Cawdor, stepmother of Colin Campbell, 7th Earl Cawdor. Cawdor Castle is a category A listed building, the highest grade of protection given to historic structures in Scotland.
Architecture
The castle grew from its 15th-century tower house core, with substantial wings and additions made in later centuries as the Campbells expanded the building.
Worth knowing
Cawdor Castle is popularly linked to Shakespeare's Macbeth, in which the title character is made Thane of Cawdor, though the play never mentions the castle itself and it was built centuries after the historical King Macbeth's reign.
Gardens & grounds
The grounds hold three separate gardens developed over generations, listed in Scotland's Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Nairn Rail Station (4.4 miles)
Open seasonally from late April to early October.
Nearby properties
Fort George
View Fort George on heritage mapCulloden Battlefield Visitor Centre
Visit Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre View Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre on heritage mapBrodie Castle
View Brodie Castle on heritage mapLogie House Garden
View Logie House Garden on heritage mapHugh Miller Museum & Birthplace Cottage
View Hugh Miller Museum & Birthplace Cottage on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 10 miles of Cawdor Castle there are 7 historic properties, including 2 historic buildings, across Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and Historic Houses sites.
Within 20 miles of Cawdor Castle there are 15 historic properties, including 3 historic sites, 3 historic houses and 2 historic buildings, across Historic Environment Scotland, Historic Houses and National Trust for Scotland sites.
Facts
A 15th-century tower built, tradition says, around a living holly tree, still home to the family who built it.
- Type
- castle
- Location
- Nairnshire, Scotland
- Visit duration
- Allow 2-3 hours
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