North Highlands Highlight

Dunrobin Castle

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DUNROBIN CASTLE (G Dunrobin, Robin’s Fort) stands on a bluff just north of Golspie. It has an enchanting fairytale appearance when seen from afar. Closer inspection reveals a huge multiperiod mansion house.

The oldest part of the building is a 14th century keep, but it is probably built on the site of a Norse fort, itself on an iron Age broch. Additions were made during the 16th century, but most of Dunrobin visible today dates from the 19th century.

In 1835 Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament, was commissioned to build what Queen Victoria called a mixture between a Scotch castle and a French chateau. In WW1 it was used as a naval hospital and in 1915 suffered serious fire damage.

Sir Robert Lorimer of the Arts and Crafts movement undertook major renovations in 1919 and made several major alterations in the style of the Scottish renaissance. A grand staircase leads from the entrance to the public floor rooms, which have expansive views over the sea towards Moray and the Black Isle.

During the self-guided visit, the Dining Room, laid out as in the 1850s, the Drawing Room, saved from fire in 1915 and the Library with its 10,000 books are perhaps the highlights. There are a number of works by artists including Canaletto, Reynolds, Ramsay and Wright, as well as fine furniture and tapestries.

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