The Castles of Clan Sutherland

Clan Sutherland was once one of the most powerful families in Britain, and they owned numerous grand castles fitting of this status, some of which are still standing today!

One mile north of Golspie in Sutherland, on the east coast of the Scottish Highlands, stands the striking Dunrobin Castle, which has served as Clan Sutherland’s ancestral seat since the 13th century. The Earldom of Sutherland was created in 1235, and the castle is thought to have existed since then, possibly on the site of an old medieval fort. ‘Dun Robin’ means ‘Robin’s Hill’ in Gaelic, which has led some historians to speculate that it may have been named to commemorate Robert, the 6th Earl of Sutherland. 

The building is impressive in size and design, and contains an extraordinary 189 rooms, making it the largest castle in the Northern Highlands. The design went through several different iterations, reflecting the changing styles of the times. To begin with, it was a fortified, square keep with thick defensive walls and a vaulted ceiling. Later on, a series of additions were made, though the original keep was always maintained.

Dunrobin Castle

In 1845, iconic architect Sir Charles Barry was hired to update Dunrobin, redesigning it in the Scottish Baronial style, largely inspired by Queen Victoria’s new home at Balmoral. Barry also remade the gardens, taking inspiration from the ornate Gardens of Versailles. He designed the grounds as a sort of optical illusion, so that they appear to stretch out further across the landscape than they actually do, helping to increase the impression of Dunrobin as a grand, aristocratic home. 

The castle was redesigned once again after a destructive fire broke out in 1915, and the family hired Scottish architect, Sir Robert Lorimer, to rebuild the main tower and the clock tower to fit the fashionable Scottish Renaissance style. 

After the 5th Duke of Sutherland passed away in 1963, the Earldom and the Dukedom were separated, and the Earldom and the house were inherited by his niece, the 24th Countess of Sutherland, while the Dukedom went to John Egerton, Earl of Ellesmere. 

In 1965, Dunrobin opened as a boarding school, hosting 40 students and 5 teachers in its first year, before reverting back to the Sutherland’s family home in the late 1960s. The castle and its grounds have been open to the public since 1973, though some areas are kept private and still serve as a home to the Sutherlands. 

Why not plan a visit yourself? It’s an amazing opportunity to get close to living clan history. You can find out more about what’s on offer, including a museum, café, and shop, on the Dunrobin Castle’s website.

Our next Sutherland site for today is the equally impressive, and old, Dornoch Castle. It is not known exactly when the building was built, but we do know that it was given to the Earl of Sutherland in 1557, which suggests it may date back to the late 15th century. 

Over the following centuries, the castle survived numerous phases of destruction and subsequent repair, especially during the violent clan clashes of the 1500s and 1600s. Despite the turmoil, Dornoch remained mostly intact until the 18th century, when it began to fall into bad condition. In the early 19th century, Dornoch town was significantly redeveloped, and the castle was repurposed to serve the local community. The residential sections of the castle were made into public buildings, while the tower was turned into a courthouse and jail. 

Dornoch Castle Hotel by Julian Paren

Dornoch eventually passed into private ownership in 1922, but not without one slight problem! By that point, one ghostly resident of the grounds had become a notorious local figure. Numerous people had claimed to see the ghost of a man called Andrew McCornish, who had been imprisoned and killed for stealing sheep from nearby estates, roaming Dornoch at night.

The new owners were not keen on sharing their home with this haunting thief, so they had the building exorcised before they moved in.

As well as this supernatural building work, they also carried out significant modernisation, eventually opening Dornoch as a hotel in 1947. This improvement has continued over the years, and it is now a popular luxury destination. 

If you are craving a relaxing getaway in the Scottish Highlands, we’d recommend considering Dornoch Castle and taking the chance to stay the night in a place the great Clan Sutherland once called home. Find out more about planning a visit to Dornoch Castle Hotel. 

Our final Sutherland site for today is lesser known, but just as fascinating! Now standing in ruins, Skelbo Castle is located a few miles northwest of Dornoch, overlooking the sweeping Loch Fleet. While it is now largely forgotten, it once played an essential role in Clan Sutherland’s influence over the Highlands. 

The castle dates back to the 13th century and was likely originally built as a defensive stronghold that gave the Sutherlands the perfect place to watch and monitor the land surrounding their territory. 

It is thought that Hugh de Moravia, also known as Lord of Sutherland, granted Skelbo to Gilbert de Moravia in 1211, who then gave the castle to his brother, Richard, in 1235. 

One of the most significant moments in Skelbo’s history occurred in 1290, when a group of Scottish nobles and Edward I of England’s envoys met at the site to discuss the succession crisis that followed the tragic death of seven-year-old Margaret, Maid of Norway. 

Skelbo Castle by Wojsyl

In the 15th century, Skelbo entered a period of turbulence as it faced numerous ownership disputes. In 1494, the widow of John of Kinnaird argued that she should be granted the castle rather than Thomas of Kinnaird. At the same time, the Murrays of Aberscross were also trying to claim a right to the land. In the end, local courts ordered that official ownership would remain with the Kinnaird family who, like the Sutherlands, were descended from Richard de Moravia. 

In 1529, Clan Sutherland reclaimed Skelbo when William Sutherland, the 6th Lord of Duffus, entered into a contract with John Kinnaird, agreeing to pay him in instalments to gradually gain control of more and more of the land. 

The castle continued to change hands over the following centuries, though by the 18th century it had largely been abandoned and left to fall into ruin. However, sections of its grand stone walls and towers still stand today, cutting a striking sight against the idyllic landscape. 

While it may not have the luxury or grandeur of Dunrobin or Dornoch, it is undeniably still a fascinating part of Sutherland history. 

François Sutherland, webmaster and social media convenor for the Clan Sutherland Society in Scotland, kindly told us about a few more notable Clan Sutherland Castles!

Duffus Castle, the family's first castle in Scotland, built by Freskin and seat of the Sutherlands of Duffus. 

Forse Castle, seat of the Sutherlands of Forse. After abandoning the castle, the Sutherlands of Forse built Forse House, a manor house now called Forse of Nature. 

Langwell Castle, seat of the Sutherlands of Langwell, now in ruins. The Langwell branch is descended from John Beg Sutherland, youngest son of William Sutherland, 5th Earl, and Lady Joana Menteith, Countess of Sutherland (Dowager Countess of Strathearn).

We hope you feel a bit closer to Clan Sutherland having explored a few of their most significant strongholds! Let us know if you feel inspired to plan a visit to Dunrobin or Dornoch, we’d love to hear about your experience! 

 

To learn more about the mighty Sutherlands, head over to our Clan Sutherland page, and make sure to keep an eye out for the rest of our Sutherland content over this month.

Image Sources:

Dornoch Castle Hotel by Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0

Skelbo Castle ruins, Scotland by Wojsyl - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0