The Castles of Clan Chattan

Clan Chattan and its branches have owned many grand castles and buildings over the years, each complete with ghost stories, clan feuds, and fascinating histories befitting of their noble owners. 

As usual, we’d like to start by exploring the clan’s hereditary seat. 

Tor Castle gained its name from the Gaelic ‘Torr a’Chaisteil,’ or ‘mound of the castle,’ and now stands ruined on the scenic River Lochy, sitting on a small island that rises strikingly from the water. 

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland has described the castle remains as being in ‘rather poor condition,’ as only small remnants of the building survive, with the main visible section being 2 standing walls. A number of smaller areas still show segments of brick and mortar, though much of it has now been taken over by nature and covered in moss and foliage. 

Despite its now dilapidated state, Tor was once so coveted that it was the cause of a centuries-long, bitter dispute. 

It is thought that Tor Castle was built on top of the remains of an 11th century stronghold by Gillichattan Mor, the believed progenitor of Clan Chattan. 

Tor Castle

In 1291, Angus Mackintosh married a woman named Eva, the daughter of Dougal Dal, the Chief of Clan Chattan, and inherited the Chattan Chief status. They subsequently came into possession of the lands of Glen Loy and Loch Arkaig, which included the grand Tor Castle. From here, the castle became Clan Chattan’s seat, and the perfect home for this powerful couple.

However, the pair did not stay at Tor for long. They soon relocated to Rothiemurchus due to an argument with Angus’ uncle, the Chief of Clan Donald. 

This left Tor Castle vacant and extremely enticing. Clan Cameron quickly seized the territory, claiming that it had been abandoned, and added an imposing tower house and courtyard. It is also thought that Alastair Carrach, a key figure of the Macdonald family and ally of the Camerons, expanded on the building, and built a commanding, defensive keep.

As a result, a long lasting and harsh feud between Clan Cameron and Clan Chattan/Clan Mackintosh broke out. The opposing clans had numerous battles and clashes over hundreds of years until, in 1665, Scotland’s Privy Council ordered the respective chiefs to resolve the issue. 

It was decided that the Camerons would play the Mackintoshes/Chattans for the land and castle, making them the official and legal owners. Tor Castle then served as Clan Cameron’s seat for some time and was finally abandoned in around 1745. 

Although the site is now not accessible to visitors, and the ruins are left largely undisturbed, Tor Castle has been officially registered as a Scheduled Monument to recognise its significant spot in Scottish history and the fascinating role it played in centuries of clan warfare.  

Another Chattan site that continues to hold cultural and historical importance today is the deeply impressive Ardchattan Priory. 

It is thought that the Priory was set up in 1230 by Duncan MacDougal and that Gillichattan Mor was assigned the prestigious role of Baillie, or protector, of the church lands. The building was comprised of north and south transepts, chapels, and a nave, with living spaces for the monks placed around the cloister. The number of monks was always small, with no more than 20 at a time being permitted, but there were frequently much fewer at Ardchattan. By 1538 there were only 6 monks living at the priory, and by 1560 the number had fallen to just 3.

Ardchattan Priory by Tom Parnell

In 1602, Archibald Campbell gained ownership of the priory grounds and started work to turn parts of the property into a private house, adding a dining room and private burial grounds for the Campbell family outside the south and north walls. 

During the civil war, Loyalists plundered what was left of a church, causing worship at Ardchattan to end entirely, although the local parish continued to use the chapel as a graveyard until 1906.

Today, the priory remains are open for the public to visit, and we think it would make the perfect spot to enjoy a moment of quiet reflection, or to connect with your ancient Chattan heritage. Find out more about how to plan a trip on Historic Environment Scotland’s website here.

Our final site for today belonged to one of the main families of the Chattan alliance: the great Clan MacPherson! We have actually explored Newton Castle before here at ScotlandShop, so be sure to check out the Castles of Clan MacPherson blog to learn more, and even meet the castle’s current owner! 

Today, however, we wanted to delve into the eerie and intriguing ghost story that has long been associated with this grand old building. As with all spooky, historical tales, we can’t verify the total truth behind the legend, but it’s certainly a very entertaining bit of folklore!  

It is said that Newton Castle has been haunted by the ghost of Lady Jean Drummond, or ‘the Green Lady,’ since the 14th century. The story goes that Lady Jean, the daughter of the castle’s owner, became infatuated with a local Lord named Ronald, and was desperate to win his affections. 

Newton Castle by Odysseus1479

Unfortunately for Jean, the young man was not immediately taken with her, and instead seemed to be much more interested in a number of other women. Jean, however, refused to give up. She began dressing in the finest clothes, shoes, and jewellery she could find, often donning rich silks and satins, and braiding her hair with pearls. None of this caught Ronald’s eye, and Jean started to grow dejected. 

She decided to try an alternate path, and sought the advice of a local witch, who told her that to attract the man, she should wear ‘witchin’ claith o’ green,’ or green clothes of fairies. The witch explained that she could obtain this ethereal outfit by waiting all night at the Corbie Stane, a stone that rose out of a local river. 

Jean was willing to try anything to win over her love, so she followed the mysterious old woman’s advice, and fell asleep by the side of Corbie Stane. When she woke up, she found herself dressed from head to toe in flowing, green fabric. She then returned to Newton Castle where, to her delight, she found Ronald waiting for her. The young lord was bewitched by her new look, and they were soon married. 

However, not long after the ceremony, Jean began to hear the terrifying whispers of fairies taunting her, and in a shocking twist, she collapsed. Ronald was distraught and carried her to their room at the top of the castle’s round tower, but she could not be revived. 

Supposedly, the vengeful fairies had claimed her life as payment for the enchanted clothes they had bestowed on Jean. There have been countless reports ever since of her ghost wandering Newton Castle, mournfully searching for her lost love and singing sorrowful ballads.  

We hope you have enjoyed exploring a few significant Chattan sites with us today! Make sure to follow along for more Chattan content over the rest of this month and check out our Clan Chattan page to get a comprehensive snapshot of this fascinating family! 

Image sources:

Archatton Priory by Tom Parnell from Scottish Borders, Scotland - Archatton Priory, CC BY-SA 2.0

Newton Castle by Odysseus1479 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0