Jump To Section:
Clan Fraser of Lovat held many strongholds fitting of their great power. Read our blog to find out more about these castles!
Discover the Castles of Clan Fraser of Lovat
Lovat Castle
The family’s first grand seat was Lovat Castle nestled in the Highlands right in the heart of their territory, near Kirkhill and Beauly. Stood on the south bank of the River Beauly, it would have been a striking sight.
It was originally built in the 11th or 12th century by Clan Bisset, and came into the Fraser’s hands when Simon Fraser married the heiress to the Bissett lands in the 13th century.
The clan spent many happy and prosperous years at the castle, though not without a few near disasters. Around 1505, a fire broke out, threatening both the stronghold and the treasures within. Luckily, Rory Mackenzie, a nephew of Thomas Fraser, 2nd Lord Lovat, acted quickly and heroically, rescuing the Fraser charter chest from the flames.
Equally luckily, they managed to put out the fire before the castle was destroyed. Lord Lovat even took the opportunity to improve the grounds, making the orchard bigger, planting elms, planes, and ash trees, and digging a new well in the central courtyard.
The next Lord, Hugh Fraser, also put significant effort into strengthening the clan’s seat. He is thought to have fortified the courtyard with ‘yetts,’ a type of grille made from latticed wrought iron bars used for defensive purposes. He also built a grand oak entrance gate, which would have made the family’s prestige very clear to any visitors!
Like the previous lord, Hugh also cared for the castle grounds, planting aspen trees around the green, and repairing the chapel, which was dedicated to St Laurence.
As well as an impressive array of plants and trees. Lovat Castle’s grounds also held some mysterious secrets! In 1634, a gardener tending the orchard uncovered an earthenware pot filled with ornate gold coins and rings. It was believed that this buried treasure had been brought to Lovat by Elizabeth Stewart, the wife of Hugh Fraser, 5th Lord Lovat, then stolen and hidden by her maid.
Not long after, the clan moved to a new stronghold, establishing a bigger and grander seat. They dismantled Lovat Castle for building materials and transported the stone and oak beams over the River Beauly to use at the new site.
Sadly, nothing remains of the castle today, but we’re sure the Frasers of Lovat’s presence can still be felt in the scenic countryside that once formed the backdrop to their grand seat.
Beaufort Castle
The clan’s next stronghold was Beaufort Castle, previously known as Castle Dounie. It is situated on the right bank of the River Beauly, looking out over the stunning, sweeping countryside. It is thought that there has been a castle on the site since the 12th century, and that the original building was commissioned by the Bisset family. It was later owned by the Fentons in the 13th century, before eventually coming into the possession of Clan Fraser of Lovat.
The infamous Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, inherited the estates in 1699, though his support for the Jacobite cause would lead the Frasers to temporarily lose ownership of the castle. In the 1740s, he commissioned William Adam to design a new house on the site, optimistically aiming to improve the clan’s home, and make it even more impressive. Unfortunately, construction never started, as Lovat was captured after the Battle of Culloden, and Dounie Castle was razed, leading to the estate being declared forfeit.
Luckily, Clan Fraser of Lovat managed to regain their ancestral seat in 1774, when it was returned to Simon Fraser, 12th Lord Lovat. Over the following years, the family worked hard to make their grand home even grander! In 1839, Thomas Fraser of Strichen hired William Burn to extend the castle, and improve the grounds and estate, before his son, Simon Fraser, made even more dramatic changes, building the present-day Beaufort Castle.
Designer, James Maitland Wardrop, created a striking Baronial mansion, complete with a private Roman Catholic chapel. He also made sure to honour the clan’s heritage by leaving the remains of Dounie Castle beside the house, accompanied by a plaque stating ‘this is the ruin of Castle Dounie, the ancient stronghold of the Frasers of Lovat, built c. 1400, and destroyed by Cumberland after the battle of Culloden.’
The castle was sold by the 15th Lord Lovat, but its significance in the history of Clan Fraser of Lovat can never be forgotten.
Dalcross Castle
Our final castle for today is particularly charming, as it is now available for guests to stay in!
Dalcross Castle boasts picturesque pink sandstone walls and is set in a vast, 850 acre private estate just a 15 minute drive away from Inverness Airport.
The 6th Lord Lovat built the castle in 1621, from the outset designing it to impress and defend. Though often described as an L-plan castle, it is better understood as two offset wings joined at the corner by a projecting square tower, creating dramatic re-entrant angles and a striking silhouette. One wing rises to five storeys with an attic, while the other stands at three, all crowned by impressive turrets.
The castle’s walls tell the story of the clan’s turbulent history as they are peppered with gunloops and shot-holes, while many of the windows retain their original iron yetts, again harking back to a dramatic Highland past! One particular story stands out.
During the rising of 1745, the Mackintoshes held the castle, and in a remarkable twist of fate, the Duke of Cumberland and his troops were hosted here on the eve of the Battle of Culloden, while the laird’s wife was simultaneously raising her own forces in support of Bonnie Prince Charlie!
Dalcross evolved over time as its owners added new stylish features to keep up with contemporary fashions. In the 18th century, the north gable was expanded and the castle’s ornate gardens were laid out, while in the 19th century, further windows and dormers were added.
Much later on, Dalcross was carefully restored and modernised after being purchased in 1996, with work completed in 2003. Today, it is a magical setting for weddings, anniversaries, and unforgettable Highland holidays. Guests can wander the extensive gardens, relax by log fires, or explore the surrounding woodland, home to red squirrels, badgers, deer, owls, hawks, wild duck and songbirds. If you are looking for a unique getaway, what could be better?
We hope you have enjoyed this trip around a few of Clan Fraser of Lovat’s most impressive homes! Seeing the family’s grand strongholds makes it easier to imagine their dramatic daily lives and bring such faraway history to life.
If you feel inspired to learn more about this mighty clan, head to our Clan Fraser of Lovat page, and be sure to keep an eye out for the rest of our Clan Fraser of Lovat content coming out over this month!
Image Sources:
Top image: Beaufort Castle by Craig Wallace, CC BY-SA 2.0
Downstream Beauly River From Lovat Bridge by Stanley Howe, CC BY-SA 2.0
Beaufort Castle Ancient home of the Frasers. Front drive and main tower by Duncan David McColl, CC BY-SA 2.0
Dalcross Castle by James Allan, CC BY-SA 2.0
