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The Great Britain Guide

Castles · Scottish Highlands

Balnagown Castle

♿ Wheelchair: limited

Balnagown Castle (also Balnagowan)(Ross Castle) is beside the village of Kildary in Easter Ross, part of the Highland area of Scotland. There has been a castle on the site since the 14th century, alt

Balnagown Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1102747

sylvia duckworth — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

About

Balnagown Castle (also Balnagowan)(Ross Castle) is beside the village of Kildary in Easter Ross, part of the Highland area of Scotland. There has been a castle on the site since the 14th century, although the present building was remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan Ross, although from the 1970s onwards it was owned by Egyptian-born businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. It is protected as a category B listed building, and the grounds are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.

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From the Wikipedia article

Balnagown Castle (also Balnagowan)(Ross Castle) is beside the village of Kildary in Easter Ross, part of the Highland area of Scotland. There has been a castle on the site since the 14th century, although the present building was remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan Ross, although from the 1970s onwards it was owned by Egyptian-born businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. It is protected as a category B listed building, and the grounds are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

In the early 14th century, a castle was begun at Balnagown by Hugh, Mormaer (Earl) of Ross. Hugh was husband of Maud, sister of King Robert the Bruce, although after Hugh's death in 1333, his family lost royal favour and their lands were forfeit. Balnagown was acquired by a stepson of Hugh in 1375 who expanded the estate, a process which continued over the following centuries. On 11 November 1501 James IV was entertained by the laird's harper. In 1585 Alexander Ross, 9th laird of Balnagown, was outlawed, as was his son George. David and Anne rebuilt Balnagown, as attested by a datestone of 1672 on the castle, although they left no heir, and the estate passed to the Rosses of Halkhead in…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
57.7494, -4.0806
District
Highland
Postcode
IV18 0NU
Parliamentary constituency
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Balnagown Castle?
Balnagown Castle is in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (postcode IV18 0NU).
Does Balnagown Castle charge admission?
Balnagown Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
How do I get to Balnagown Castle?
Drivers can navigate to postcode IV18 0NU. It sits within the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross parliamentary constituency.