Dornoch Castle

Dornoch Castle stands opposite Dornoch Cathedral in the small Highland town of Dornoch. Built around 1500 as the Palace of Dornoch, it once housed the bishops of Caithness before becoming a private residence for the Earl of Sutherland. The castle was damaged in a feud in 1570 and later rebuilt with a taller tower. It fell into decay during the 18th century but was restored in the early 19th century. The building was remodelled for the Duke of Sutherland in 1859 and expanded around 1880. The castle’s history includes a ghostly legend. Andrew McCornish, a covenanter hanged for sheep stealing in the 17th century, is said to haunt the site. Court hearings were once held in a room reached by a spiral staircase until a new sheriff court was built in 1850. After being sold in 1922, it became a hotel in 1947, with 24 bedrooms and garden rooms added later. Visitors find a family-run hotel with 24 rooms, some in the original tower. The building is a category B listed structure, blending historic features with modern comforts. The Thompson family, who own the hotel, also run Dornoch Distillery nearby. The castle’s setting near the cathedral and its layered past make it a distinctive place to stay in the Highlands.