Clan Rising

Lovat Castle

Lovat Castle was a medieval stronghold on the south bank of the River Beauly in the Highlands of Scotland, originally built by the Bisset family and later held by the Frasers. It was altered and maintained through the 16th and 17th centuries but was dismantled for building materials in 1671 and no visible remains survive today; the site is now occupied by farm buildings at Wester Lovat.

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Its prime

1540

Today

Demolished

As it stood in 1540

What Lovat Castle looked like in its prime.

A stone-built castle grouped around a central open courtyard on the south bank of the River Beauly, with substantial oak beams used in roofs and a prominent great oaken entrance gate reinforced by iron yetts. The courtyard contained a newly dug well at its centre. A small chapel dedicated to St Laurence sat within the enclosure. The castle was surrounded by a dyke and a planted orchard of elms, plane and ash trees and stood immediately beside the river.

Its story

The story of Lovat Castle.

The Bissets' Beauly Castle and the Fraser Marriage

Lovat Castle stood on the south bank of the River Beauly in the Highlands, near Kirkhill and Beauly, and was originally known as Beauly Castle. The Bissets built it in the 11th or 12th century, and it passed to the Frasers in the 13th century through the marriage of Simon Fraser to a Bisset heiress.

Fire, Charter Chest and Yetts under the Early Lords Lovat

Fire took hold at Lovat around 1505. Rory Mackenzie — a nephew of Thomas Fraser, 2nd Lord Lovat, and later the father of Murdo Mackenzie of Fairburn — was staying in the castle, and carried the Fraser charter chest out of the flames. Thomas, Lord Lovat, enlarged the orchard, planting elms, planes and ash, and had a new well dug in the central courtyard. Hugh Fraser, 3rd Lord Lovat, was said to have fortified the courtyard during the reign of James V with yetts and to have installed a great oaken entrance gate. He built a dyke planted with aspen trees around the green, and repaired the castle chapel, which was dedicated to St Laurence.

The Orchard Gold and the Dismantling, 1634–1671

In the autumn of 1634 a man cutting withies in the orchard turned up an earthenware pot filled with gold coins and rings. The treasure was thought to have been brought to Lovat by Elizabeth Stewart, bride of Hugh Fraser, 5th Lord Lovat, and to have been stolen and hidden by her maid. In 1671 the castle was dismantled for building materials, its stone and oak beams ferried over the River Beauly to a new site. Nothing of it remains, and farm buildings at Wester Lovat now stand on the ground.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1540.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Lovat Castle, including 1 interior: chapel of st laurence (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

River approach (south bank)Main entrance and yettsCentral courtyard with wellChapel of St Laurence (interior)Orchard and enclosing dykeDyke and the green

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Whose castle

Clans who held Lovat Castle.

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

  • Bisset

    Built by the Bissets in the 11th–12th century as Beauly Castle.

  • Fraser

    Held by the Frasers of Lovat from Simon Fraser's 13th-century marriage to a Bisset heiress until the castle was dismantled in 1671.

Questions about Lovat Castle

What is the history of Lovat Castle?

Lovat Castle was built by the Bissets in the 11th–12th century as a medieval stronghold, originally known as Beauly Castle. It came into the hands of the Frasers through Simon Fraser’s 13th-century marriage to a Bisset heiress. The castle was fortified and altered during the 16th and 17th centuries before being dismantled for building materials in 1671.

What is inside Lovat Castle?

Lovat Castle contained a small chapel dedicated to St Laurence and a central courtyard with a well. The chapel was within the castle enclosure, while the courtyard was an open internal space. No further interior rooms or furnishings are described.

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

Lovat Castle was a medieval stronghold, built to serve as a fortified castle. Its courtyard was later fortified with yetts and a great oaken entrance gate, and the enclosure included a chapel, a well and a surrounding dyke. The castle was maintained and altered through the 16th and 17th centuries.

Where is Lovat Castle?

Lovat Castle stood on the south bank of the River Beauly near Kirkhill, in the Highland region. It was near Beauly and stood immediately beside the river. The site is now occupied by farm buildings at Wester Lovat.

When was Lovat Castle built?

Lovat Castle was built in the 11th–12th century. Its first-raised year is not recorded, while 1540 is identified as its prime year. The castle therefore belongs to the medieval period and was later altered and maintained through the 16th and 17th centuries.

Which family or clan held Lovat Castle?

Lovat Castle was held first by the Bissets and later by the Frasers of Lovat. The Bissets built it in the 11th–12th century as Beauly Castle, and it came into the Frasers’ hands through Simon Fraser’s 13th-century marriage to a Bisset heiress. The Frasers held it until it was dismantled in 1671.

What did Lovat Castle look like in its prime?

Lovat Castle was a stone-built castle grouped around a central open courtyard on the south bank of the River Beauly. Its roofs used substantial oak beams, and its main entrance had a prominent great oaken gate reinforced with iron yetts. A well stood in the courtyard, with a chapel, enclosing dyke and planted orchard beside the river.

Is Lovat Castle still standing?

Lovat Castle is no longer standing: it was dismantled for building materials in 1671. Its stone and oak beams were ferried across the River Beauly to a new site, and no visible remains survive. Farm buildings at Wester Lovat now occupy the ground.

Who built Lovat Castle?

Lovat Castle was built by the Bissets in the 11th–12th century. It was originally known as Beauly Castle and later came into the hands of the Frasers through Simon Fraser’s marriage to a Bisset heiress in the 13th century. No architect is identified.

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