The Castles of Clan Grant

Clan Grant is a powerful family who have always exercised great influence over their territories. Over the years, they have acquired multiple striking castles suited to their grand status! Come with us to explore a few of these strongholds and their fascinating histories. 

Castle Grant, located just north of Grantown-on-Spey, long served as the ancestral seat of Clan Grant, specifically acting as a home for the chiefs of Strathspey. It was originally known as ‘Freuchie Castle,’ derived from the Gaelic word ‘Fraoichaich,’ meaning ‘place of heather,’ and was renamed as Castle Grant in 1694 to reflect the clan’s prestige. 

The castle was built in a classic Z-plan and dates back to the 15th century. The land was owned by Clan Comyn, until it was seized by a joint force of Clan Grant and Clan MacGregor. One grisly legend says that during the attack the Comyn Chief was killed and his skull taken as a trophy. The Grants supposedly kept the skull at the castle as a symbol of their victory, believing that if it were ever to leave the family, it would cause a spell of disastrous bad luck. 

You’ll be glad to know that not all relics in Castle Grant were so morbid! Over the years, the Grants adorned the castle with many sophisticated decorations, including heraldic stone animals carved by Ralph Rawlinson, and painted and gilded dormer windows showcasing the family’s great wealth. 

Castle Grant by Ronnie Leask

The castle witnessed several turbulent events that played key roles in Scottish history. In the 18th century, the 8th Laird, Ludovick Grant, supported the Hanoverians during the Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745, and the castle was briefly occupied by Jacobite forces. 

Luckily, the Grants soon claimed their seat back, and it continued to serve as a shining example of contemporary style. In 1787, it even attracted a visit from iconic poet Robert Burns.

Sadly, the castle fell into disrepair in the 1900s, after having been used by the Army during World War II.  In August 1982, a fire caused further damage, and several subsequent failed restoration attempts left it derelict again. 

One lingering resident adds to the spookiness of the abandoned building. Castle Grant is said to be haunted by the ghost of Lady Barbara Grant, daughter of a 16th century Laird. The story goes that she fell in love with an ‘unsuitable match,’ and her father locked her in a dark closet as punishment, where she is said to have died of a broken heart. Reported sightings claim that she makes a melancholic figure, haunting her old home forever in search of her forbidden love. 

While Castle Grant may only have ghostly members of the family left, Ballindalloch Castle is still owned and inhabited by Macpherson-Grants, making it one of the few private castles in Scotland that has been lived in continuously by the family who founded it! 

Ballindalloch Castle, nestled in the Speyside region, has been a home to the Macpherson-Grant Clan since the early 16th century. The land was first given to John Grant of Freuchie by King James IV in 1498, and his grandson began to build the castle in 1542.

It was originally built in a Z-plan layout typical of the era and featured a 3-storey block with two high towers to its north and south. It was also strategically protected by the Rivers Spey and Avon, which formed a natural moat. 

Unfortunately, these defensive measures could not protect Ballindalloch forever, and during the mid-17th century, Royalist forces besieged the castle, burning the interior, and forcing the Grants to flee. Luckily, the family were determined to return to their home, so they soon reclaimed and repaired the estate. 

Ballindalloch Castle by RedSonje

The 18th century was comparatively calmer, giving the Clan time to make improvements on the castle, with Colonel William Grant adding a southern wing in 1718, and General James Grant adding a northern wing in 1770. 

In 1829, a natural disaster prompted the family to modernise further. A catastrophic flood, known locally as ‘Muckle Spate,’ tore through the grounds, wreaking havoc and causing devastating destruction. As a result, between 1848 and 1853, the Macpherson-Grants hired the architect Thomas Mackenzie to transform the stronghold into a modern mansion, while preserving its historic core. His work was a grand success, and the family live in the updated Ballindalloch to this day. 

While it is still a private home, it is partially open to the public to explore. We think a visit would be the perfect way to connect with your Clan Grant ancestors, while enjoying the scenic gardens, woodlands, and riverside walks, as well as the café and gift shop of course! Head to their website to find out more information, and don’t forget to let us know what you think if you end up making the trip. 

Our final Clan Grant site for today lets you get even closer to the family’s fascinating history, as it is now an idyllic holiday let, where you can stay in the same building that your great ancestors once called home. 

Muckrach Castle is a striking 16th-century tower house which is located near Dulnain Bridge in the Scottish Highlands, within the breathtaking Cairngorms National Park. It became the seat of the Grants of Rothiemurchus when the estate was passed from John Grant of Freuchie to his son, Patrick Grant. Patrick was knighted by King James VI and therefore given the title ‘of Rothiemurchus.’ 

The castle’s design boasted all the most coveted features of the late 16th century, including a square keep and vaulted basement, a great hall on the first floor, and upper levels accessed via a spiral staircase within a corbelled turret. It was relatively modest in size, so it is likely that Muckrach was intended to garner social prestige more than serve as a military stronghold.

Muckrach Castle by Mike Searle

By the mid-18th century, the castle had sadly largely fallen into disrepair. By the late 19th century, only the walls remained, and it was considered a ruin. Despite its declined state, its historic significance was still recognised, and it was designated a Category A listed building in 1971. 

Later that decade, Scottish architect, Ian Begg, led careful and thorough restoration efforts, reviving the historical character of the building, while also adapting it for modern use. Since then, Muckrach Castle has been in use as a luxury holiday residence, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the stunning Highlands while also being a part of real clan history! 

If you’d like the chance to stay in the same grand building that once belonged to the mighty Clan Grant, check out Muckrach Castle’s website here. 

We hope you have enjoyed exploring these classic Scottish castles as much as we have! Which of Clan Grant’s old strongholds is your favourite? 

 

If you’d like to learn more about the fascinating Grants, why not head over to our Clan Grant page, and make sure to keep an eye out for the rest of our content over this month. 

Image Sources:

Castle Grant by © ronnie leask (cc-by-sa/2.0) geograph.org.uk/p/980934 taken Friday, 19 September, 2008

Ballindalloch Castle, Banffshire, Scotland by RedSonje - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Muckrach Castle by Mike Searle, CC BY-SA 2.0