The Castles of Clan Davidson

It seems only right to start with the great clan seat. There is little formal documentation about the early days of Tulloch Castle, but it is commonly believed to have been built in the 12^th century by a Norseman. It is known that the Bayne family gained ownership of the castle sometime in the 1500s and held onto it for many generations, until Kenneth Bayne, the 8^th Laird of Tulloch, sold the land to his cousin, Henry Davidson, on the 13^th of January 1762. From that point on, the castle became the Davidson Clan Seat until the death of Duncan Davidson in 1917.

The blow of losing the site was slightly lessened by the noble role it played in the following years, serving as a hospital for numerous soldiers injured in the battle of Dunkirk. Tulloch continued to help those in need after it was purchased by the local education authority in 1957, and transformed into a hostel for students studying at the nearby Dingwall Academy. The hostel operated for many years until it closed in 1976, sadly leaving Tulloch to fall into disuse and disrepair.

Thankfully, this did not last long, as a local family called the MacAulays bought the castle in 1996, transforming it into a stately hotel. We love to think that the Davidson’s once beloved home now plays host to innumerable tourists seeking to connect with the clan!

If you take a look around the site, you’ll be pleased to see that many ancient and fascinating features remain. One of the most intriguing is a hidden secret tunnel that leads from the basement across to Dingwall Castle. Sadly, the passageway is now largely collapsed, but you can still view parts of it through an air vent on the front lawn and imagine all the sneaky business your Davidson ancestors once conducted there!

In the castle grounds, you can find the old family graveyard which contains the graves of many generations of Davidsons, including pets! While it has become somewhat eerily overgrown, several of the headstones are still clearly visible.

The hotel has also made its own efforts to commemorate the Davidsons, opening an official Clan Davidson Room in 2007 in conjunction with the Clan Association’s President, Lord Davidson of Glen Cova, and local Councillor, Margaret Paterson. It contains a wide and varied display of Davidson artefacts, including china, traditional clothes, and military medals, and is a must see for any history enthusiasts!

Are you planning your visit already? If so, we feel we should warn you that this classic castle is as notorious for its ghostly residents as it is for its beauty!

It is almost impossible to keep track of all the spooky spirits that have been reported at Tulloch over the years, but one that comes up time and time again is the notorious ‘Green Lady.’ No one has been able to confirm her identity, but it is thought that she is most likely Elizabeth Davidson, the daughter of the 4^th Laird of Tulloch, Duncan Davidson. This Laird was infamous for his multiple, tumultuous relationships with women, and one such relationship may have caused the tragic end of Elizabeth’s life.

Supposedly, one fateful day, Elizabeth discovered Duncan with a woman who was not her mother, and was so upset that she immediately fled, slipping in her hurry, and falling down the castle’s stone steps to her untimely death.

Her ghost has been sighted so many times since that one of the hotel bars has been named ‘the Green Lady’ in her honour, and Tulloch has become one of Scotland’s most popular spots for groups of ghost hunters!

Would you be brave enough to visit? Have a look at the hotel’s website to learn more and be sure to let us know if you make the journey!

Our next couple of sites for today are also home to a number of Davidson spirits, though these ones seem significantly more peaceful!

Cromarty East Church is a stunning example of religious architecture; likely developed from an original medieval design, the building was transformed following the reformation of 1560. The pulpit was moved to the south wall and the windows on either side were enlarged to let in more light and air from the surrounding idyllic countryside. A north aisle was also added to allow for an increasingly large congregation.

Today, the church retains many old and authentic features, including pews from the 18^th century and wooden pegs that would have been used by locals to hang up their bonnets and hats before attending services.

The tranquil graveyard contains several Davidson headstones, while one prominent Davidson is even commemorated in the church building, as there is a large stone memorial to Arabella Lucy Ross, daughter of the 4^th Laird of Tulloch, mounted on the wall.

Just 5 minutes down the road, on a small, forested hill, you can also find St Regulus Graveyard, which contains two ornate and decoratively carved table graves marking the burial spot of another renowned clan member, Alexander Davidson, and his wives.

If you would like to visit a poignant Davidson site to pay your respects to your ancestors but are a bit too spooked by the ghosts of Tulloch, these two scenic spots in Cromarty could be the perfect pick for you!

Our final site of today is home to a refreshingly light-hearted Davidson tale. 5 miles west of Dingwall, perched on a leafy hill, is the little town of Strathpeffer. In the town, you can find the small Kinettas graveyard, the final resting place of one of the greatest Highland pipers of all time, John Ban Mackenzie, who lived from 1796 to 1864.

As an extremely prestigious and powerful clan, the Davidsons of Tulloch were determined to employ the best musicians around to perform their salutes, so they sought out Mackenzie, hiring him as their official clan piper in 1821.

However, legend goes that the union between employer and employee did not stay smooth for long!

In 1832, the Laird at the time, Duncan Davidson, became enchanted by the young Mary Mackenzie of Applecross. Davidson was already married, so a degree of secrecy was required for the two to communicate. Luckily, John Ban Mackenzie seemed all too willing to help, and agreed to act as a go between, delivering letters exchanged by the pair. Unfortunately for Davidson, however, Mackenzie turned out to have ulterior motives, and eloped with the young Mary himself!

Thankfully, the story seemed to work out well for both parties eventually; Mackenzie’s musical skills were so renowned that he soon found alternative employment, working for Lord Breadalbane at Taymouth Castle, and it must have been beneficial for the notorious womaniser Davidson to be beaten at his own game for once!

Image Sources:

Tulloch Castle - Peter Moore, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28172545

Tulloch Castle - cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mary and Angus Hogg - geograph.org.uk/p/3388815

Cromarty East Church, southern aspect - Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134252147

Kinettas Graveyard, Strathpeffer - cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Alpin Stewart - geograph.org.uk/p/3799082