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.
Its prime
1540
Today
Demolished
As it stood in 1540
The shape it held 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.
Lovat Castle stood on the south bank of the River Beauly, near Kirkhill. Originally known as Beauly Castle, it was built by the Bissets in the 11th–12th century and came into the Frasers' hands with the marriage of Simon Fraser to a Bisset heiress in the 13th century.
Hugh Fraser, 3rd Lord Lovat, was said to have fortified the courtyard during the reign of James V with yetts and a great oaken entrance gate, while Thomas, Lord Lovat, enlarged the orchard and planted elms, planes and ash trees. When fire struck, Rory Mackenzie — a nephew of Thomas Fraser, 2nd Lord Lovat, staying at the castle — rescued the Fraser charter chest from the flames.
Legend held that treasure was brought to Lovat by Elizabeth Stewart, bride of Hugh Fraser, 5th Lord Lovat, and was stolen and hidden by her maid. The castle itself was dismantled for building materials in 1671, its stone and oak beams ferried across the River Beauly to a new site; nothing remains, and farm buildings at Wester Lovat now occupy 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 walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Lovat Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1540 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Castle to Explore →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.
Held by the Frasers of Lovat from Simon Fraser's 13th-century marriage to a Bisset heiress until the castle was dismantled in 1671.
