Clan Rising
Dalcross Castle today

Scotland · Restored

Dalcross Castle

Dalcross Castle is a 17th‑century Scottish tower house in the Highland council area, built as an L‑plan of two offset wings joined by a projecting square stair tower. It was altered and extended in the 18th century and restored in later centuries and today stands restored. The castle sits on a ridge surrounded by gardens and trees, north‑east of Inverness.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1720

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1720

What Dalcross Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact L-plan tower house of red rubble with tooled and polished ashlar dressings, composed of two offset wings, one rising five storeys plus attic, the other three, joined by a projecting square stair tower topped by a small watch chamber and a corner bartizan. The roofs are steep and gabled, walls pierced by numerous gunloops and shot-holes, many windows retain iron yetts, and a large masonry chimney stack crowns the east wall; a dated panel (1720) sits above the arched entrance from the courtyard. The site occupies a tree-edged ridge with a coped red-rubble garden wall.

Its story

The story of Dalcross Castle.

The Frasers of Lovat owned Dalcross, and the 6th Lord Lovat built a castle here in 1621, on a ridge north-east of Inverness. The property passed soon after to the Mackintoshes: Sir Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh, the clan chief, died here in 1704, and when he was buried in the family vault at Petty some 4,000 people attended, the cortege stretching four miles from Dalcross.

Though referred to as an L-plan castle, Dalcross is better described as two offset wings joined at the corner by a projecting square stair tower topped with a watch-chamber. Gunloops and shot-holes pierce the walls, many windows keep their iron yetts, and the hall's ashlar chimney-piece bears a coat of arms and the motto 'Je Trouve Bien'; a panel above the doorway shows the date 1720. Bought in 1996, the castle was modernised by Maxwell & Company Architects.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1720.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Dalcross Castle, including 5 interiors: vaulted basement kitchen, wine cellar and spiral stair to the hall, first-storey hall with ashlar chimneypiece and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the south ridgeCourtyard gateway and main doorwayBase of the square stair-tower and bartizanVaulted basement kitchenWine cellar and spiral stair to the hallFirst-storey hall with ashlar chimneypieceWide main stairTurnpike stair to upper bedroom quartersEast chimney stack of the north wingEnclosed gardens and coped red-rubble wall

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Whose castle

Clans who held Dalcross Castle.

The families that held Dalcross Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Fraser

    The Frasers of Lovat owned the property; the 6th Lord Lovat built the castle in 1621.

  • Mackintosh

    Held by the Mackintoshes from soon after 1621; clan chief Sir Lachlan Mackintosh died here in 1704.

From the archive

Dalcross Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Fig. 639.—Dalcross Castle. View from the South-West., Dalcross Castle

Fig. 639.—Dalcross Castle. View from the South-West.

1887 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 2 (1887)

Public domain

Questions about Dalcross Castle

What is the history of Dalcross Castle?

Dalcross Castle was built in the 17th century as a Scottish tower house. The 6th Lord Lovat raised it in 1621 for the Frasers of Lovat. It passed soon afterwards to the Mackintoshes, and Sir Lachlan Mackintosh, the clan chief, died there in 1704. Hanoverian troops mustered at the castle before the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

What is inside Dalcross Castle?

Inside Dalcross Castle are a vaulted basement kitchen, cellars and a wine cellar with a small stair to the hall. The first-storey hall has an ashlar chimneypiece bearing a coat of arms and the motto ‘Je Trouve Bien’. A wide main stair and a turnpike stair lead towards the upper bedroom quarters.

Why was Dalcross Castle built, and what was it used for?

Dalcross Castle was built as a tower house and residence for the Frasers of Lovat. It later passed to the Mackintoshes and became a place where Hanoverian troops mustered before the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The property was later abandoned and became ruinous before restoration and reoccupation in the 20th century.

Where is Dalcross Castle?

Dalcross Castle is on a ridge in the Highland council area, north-east of Inverness. It is about 7 miles (11 kilometres) north-east of Inverness and about 1½ miles (2.5 kilometres) south-west of Croy. The castle is surrounded by gardens and trees, with the site occupying a tree-edged ridge.

When was Dalcross Castle built?

Dalcross Castle was built in the 17th century, with the castle raised in 1621. It was later altered and extended, including a two-storey addition to the north gable in the 18th century. A dated panel above the doorway shows 1720, reflecting a later phase of the building’s history rather than its original construction date.

Which family or clan held Dalcross Castle?

Dalcross Castle was held first by the Frasers of Lovat and then by the Mackintoshes. The 6th Lord Lovat built the castle in 1621. The Mackintosh clan chief Sir Lachlan Mackintosh died there in 1704, and his funeral procession later stretched four miles from Dalcross to Petty.

What did Dalcross Castle look like in its prime?

Dalcross Castle is a compact L-plan tower house of red rubble with tooled and polished ashlar dressings. Two offset wings are joined by a projecting square stair tower with a watch chamber and corner bartizan. One wing rises five storeys plus an attic, while the other rises three, beneath steep gabled roofs pierced by gunloops and shot-holes.

Is Dalcross Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Dalcross Castle is still standing and restored, rather than a ruin. It was abandoned and became ruinous, but was restored and reoccupied in the 20th century. The castle was bought in 1996 and modernised by Maxwell & Company Architects, with the project completed in 2003.

Who built Dalcross Castle?

Dalcross Castle was built by the 6th Lord Lovat in 1621. He was associated with the Frasers of Lovat, who owned the property at the time. The available material does not name a separate architect for the castle’s original construction.

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