South of Nairn, Scotland.
Rait Castle (and inadequate leglislation). Rait Castle, a mile south of Nairn, is the best surviving example of a Scottish hall castle and yet in the last twenty years or more nothing has been done to protect this unique 800 year old structure. I took a walk up there yesterday. Finally, and a little whimsically, Gervaise de Rait was Edward I of England's man in Nairnshire. When Edward was strutting his stuff as the self-appointed 'Overlord of Scotland' in 1303, he spent ten days at Lochindorb Castle. Location: Nairn. Details: Probably built around 1240 when the Thanedom of Rait was held by Clan MacIntosh. It has changed hands several times: de Raits, Campbells, Comyns, MacIntoshes, and Campbells again. The last record of the castle was in 1590, when the 12th Thane of Cawdor held the property. It is believed to have been abandoned soon after. There seem to be only two floors, ground and first. In recognition of its historical importance, Rait Castle is both a 'scheduled ancient monument' and a 'Category A listed building''. Yet, and despite a new act going through the Scottish Parliament at the moment (March 2010), there is no burden on anyone to ensure that a scheduled monument does not fall down. Rait is one of only a handful of such castles still standing in Scotland, and the only one which is complete to the wall head and has no later additions. No longer visible beneath the vegetation are a courtyard with walls nine foot high and the remains of the Chapel of St Mary of Rait. Rait Castle near Inverness Rait Castle is located 2.5 miles south of Nairn which is east of Inverness on the east coast of Scotland. Over the centuries, the building was owned by several different families. The Save Rait Castle web site includes history, photos and tales of the ghost. See the latest news on the Save Rait Castle Facebook page Travel Info The Internet Guide to Inverness and Inverness area: sightseeing, transport, tours, etc. The ruins of Rait Castle, two miles south of Nairn Protected? Or unprotected? Rait Castle stands two miles south of the highland town of Nairn, itself about sixteen miles east of Inverness. The building is clearly visible to travellers on the A939 - if they know where to look. Technically Rait is not a castle but a 'hall house', a style common in the 13th century. Rait is one of only a handful of such castles still standing in Scotland, and the only one which is complete to the wall head and has no later additions. No longer visible beneath the vegetation are a courtyard with walls nine foot high and the remains of the Chapel of St Mary of Rait. Additional photos by Contributors. Rait was probably built around 1240 when the Thanedom of Rait was held by Clan MacIntosh. It has changed hands several times: de Raits, Campbells, Comyns, MacIntoshes, and Campbells again. The last record of the castle was in 1590, when the 12 th Thane of Cawdor held the property. It is believed to have been abandoned soon after. There seem to be only two floors, ground and first. The ground floor was used for storage and possibly some living quarters. The story of the Rait Castle ghost is taken from George Bain's History of Nairnshire: The story is to the effect that Cumming of Rait, under the guise of a desire to bury former animosities and establish friendly relations, invited the Mackintosh and his followers to a grand banquet at Raite. 
http://alastaircunningham07.blogspot.com/2009/02/rait-castle-and-historic-buildings.html http://haunted-scotland.co.uk/rait-castle/ http://saveraitcastle.org/ http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/Chatelaine/RAIT.HTM http://saveraitcastle.org/ http://www.darkisle.com/r/rait/rait.html http://saveraitcastle.org/ghost.htm
where is rait castle