Ballindalloch Castle

Ballindalloch Castle is an unusual extended tower house of the 16th century erected for the Grant family, extended in the 18th century and still occupied by the MacPherson Grant family today. It is open to the paying public seasonally.

The core of the castle is the tower house, dating to the late 16th or early 17th century. The rectangular hall block was accompanied by a round tower at diagonally opposed corners, and a third round tower mid way along the west side containing stairs serving all floors. A southern wing was added to form two sides of a courtyard in 1718, and one of similar size to the north in 1770. In 1829 a decision was made to remodel the castle in fine baronial style, which involved the complete rebuilding of the south-east tower as a grand entrance. Finally a quadrangular service courtyard was added to the north, incorporating additional accommodation on the east side.

Ballindalloch was in the hands of the Grant family from the end of the 15th century, at which time there was a “place” of Ballindalloch, perhaps the old castle at the top of the hill. This old tower may have been occupied as late as 1590, when it was taken by the earl of Huntly – in which case the castle may actually have been built subsequently. The castle was burned in 1645 by Montrose, and this put the estate in financial difficulty, perhaps the reason for John Grant of Ballindalloch joining the 1689 Jacobite rebellion, for which he was forfeited. In 1711 William Grant of Rothiemurchus received the estate from the laird of Grant, and was able to restore the fortunes of the estate. In 1806 the estate was inherited by George MacPherson, who adopted the Grant name, and he embarked upon the baronial redesign, some of which have since been removed. The castle is well worth a visit!