Kilravock Castle

Kilravock Castle stands near the village of Croy in the Highland council area, between Inverness and Nairn. Built around 1460, it began as a tower house and grew with later additions into a composite castle. The original name was Cill Rathaig, meaning ‘church at the small circular fort’ in Scottish Gaelic. The Rose family has held the castle since the 13th century, after it passed through marriage from the Boscoe family. A licence to build the keep was granted in the 15th century by the Lord of the Isles. The castle’s quadrangle developed over centuries, with a stair tower added in the 17th century. The castle has hosted notable figures across the centuries. Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed there in 1562, and a blacksmith from Elgin made an iron gate for the tower in 1568. Prince Charles Edward Stuart was entertained there days before the battle of Culloden, while the Duke of Cumberland visited soon after. Robert Burns came to the castle in 1787. Once the seat of the Rose Clan, it is now a Category A listed building and no longer part of their estate. Visitors find a castle that blends medieval and later architecture. The great tower from the 15th century remains, with its iron yett still in place. The quadrangle’s north and west ranges show later additions, while the square stair tower marks 17th-century work. The castle’s grounds sit in a quiet setting near Croy, offering a view of its historic stonework. Though no longer open to the public, its presence remains a link to centuries of Scottish history.