Newmore Castle

Newmore Castle stands as a ruin just north of Alness in the Highland region of Scotland. It once rose three storeys high but now shows only one storey topped by a barrel-vaulted roof. The remains of a stair turret still rise from the ground, once leading to an upper hall. Gun ports guard the ground-floor entrance, marking where defenders once stood. The castle’s walls enclose a single rectangular block with thick masonry. The castle’s owners shaped its story across centuries. Andrew Munro, known as Black Andrew of the Seven Castles, held the estate in the early 16th century. By 1560 records already mention the castle, which later safeguarded important documents for Foulis. George Munro, brother of the clan chief Sir Robert Munro, became its most famous resident in the 17th century. He entertained visitors with simple but warm hospitality when duties allowed. The Munro family kept the castle until 1763, after which it gradually fell into decay during the 19th century. Visitors today walk among grass-grown foundations and crumbling walls. The barrel-vaulted roof still crowns part of the structure, offering shelter from Highland winds. The stair turret’s base shows where wooden steps once climbed to the hall above. Gun ports line the entrance, hinting at the castle’s defensive role. From the site there are views across the surrounding countryside toward Alness and the Cromarty Firth. The remains stand quietly, telling the story of a clan stronghold long past its prime.