castle castle listen sits highlands scotland castle road kilometres south west kilometres east village present ruins date 13th 16th centuries built site early medieval fortification founded 13th century played role wars scottish independence 14th century subsequently held royal castle raided occasions ross castle granted clan grant conflict continued despite series raids castle strengthened largely abandoned middle 17th century partially destroyed prevent use forces subsequently decayed 20th century placed state care opened public visited castles scotland castle situated overlooking largest scotland area approached west defended ditch buildings castle laid main shore northern enclosure includes intact structures including gatehouse storey north end castle southern enclosure sited higher ground comprises remains earlier buildings history early middle ages derives 7th century form mix air old welsh wood pieces stone subjected intense heat characteristic early medieval fortification discovered early 20th century speculation fortress son king northern led professor undertake excavations records visited time little geographical detail given relates visit converted nobleman named deathbed son household place called excavations supported dating indicated rocky south west corner castle site extensive fort 5th 11th centuries findings led professor conclude likely site residence likely based site castle west early castle sources state royal castle 12th century professor finds evidence 12th 13th centuries staged series rebellions david successors rebellions maintain order granted usher door ward death years later passed son considered likely original castle built soon time centred south west site death king granted lord documentary record castle occurs captured edward invasion marked beginning wars scottish independence intermittently edward appointed sir william constable hold castle english ambushed sir returning subsequently laid siege castle launching unsuccessful night attack english soon controlled scots sir failed hold english assault time edward installed governor brother john family sided english following murder bruce completed defeat marched great taking castles time royal castle held crown series sir constable castle fighting battle hill scots defeated returned hold threatened english invasion recorded castles scotland held scots time spent summer hunting king stayed years great raided frequently isles powerful rulers semi independent kingdom western scotland claim ross seized castle crown managed retain years marched king supporters battle subsequently lost initiative crown soon control son alexander earl ross raided castle royal funds granted shore castle defences alexander son john succeeded father aged led raid great seizing subsequently obtained grant lands castle life john agreement england scottish king known james john stripped titles turned ally earl grants brought sir restore order area castle son given year lease estate castle estates granted condition repair rebuild castle grants maintained ownership castle raids west continued following disaster sir attempted gain disarray scotland claiming isles occupying castle grant regained castle driven cattle sheep looting castle provisions grant unsuccessfully attempted claim damages succeeded father involved feud culminated retaliation allies attacked captured known great raid time succeeded taking cattle hundreds animals stripped castle furniture cannon gates grant regained castle awarded cameron lands great raid proved raid historian wrote close 16th century rebuilt grants powerful force highlands repairs continued late castle longer favoured residence mob presbyterian broke castle staying turning adherence inventory taken shows castle virtually invaded scotland disregarded favour building forts end great deposed revolution sided garrisoned castle soldiers lacking weapons force supporters exiled james laid siege garrison able hold defeat main force soldiers finally left blew gatehouse prevent castle large blocks collapsed masonry visible remains gatehouse parliament ordered compensation paid grant repairs undertaken subsequent stonework materials use locals reduced ruins grant tower partially collapsed following storm later history castle regarded romantic ruin 19th century painters visitors highlands castle came control caroline widow 7th earl death son 8th earl death instructed castle entrusted state care october responsibility castle transferred commissioners majesty successor continues maintain castle category listed building scheduled monument recognition national significance historic scotland proposed construction new visitor centre car park alleviate problems parking main road strong local opposition led public inquiry approved proposals new building sunk embankment road provision parking roof structure visitor centre includes display history site including series medieval period cinema restaurant shop castle open year host wedding ceremonies people visited castle making visited site castles edinburgh description castle sited triangular north western shore commands route great entrance castle close water level low cliffs north east sides considerable room muster inland castle service buildings originally stood gardens 17th century area ground rises north west visitor centre dry moat metres widest defends approach possibly excavated early middle ages stone built causeway provides access crossing gap centre castle causeway walled forming enclosed space similar largest castles scotland area walled portion castle shaped roughly like aligned northeast southwest bank metres forming bailey north upper bailey south curtain walls date largely 14th century augmented later building particularly north remaining structures located 16th century gatehouse inland comprises twin plan towers flanking arched entrance passage passage defended double set doors guard rooms entrance series rooms served accommodation castle keeper collapsed masonry surrounds gatehouse dating destruction main focus activity castle anchored northern tip grant tower main tower house tower measures metres walls metres thick tower rests 14th century foundations largely result 16th century rebuilding originally storeys remains tallest portion castle despite southern wall collapsing storm early 18th century standing parts corners tower topped turrets main door west east narrow slots objects dropped attackers western door protected ditch accessed inner close separated main bailey gate surviving interior sections accessed circular staircase built east wall tower interior comprised hall floor rooms floors attic chambers turrets rooms main floors large 16th century windows small pistol holes allow defence south tower range buildings built thick 14th century curtain wall great hall occupied central range lord private apartments great chamber solar block north south foundations rectangular building stand rocky mound tentatively identified chapel upper bailey focused rocky mound south west corner castle highest mound site earliest defences material characteristic early medieval fortification discovered slopes mound indicating site early medieval fortification identified professor 13th century mound original castle built surviving walls represent shell hollow enclosure date ruins indicate towers north south shell 16th century water gate eastern wall gives access shore adjacent buildings housed stables south opposite base house remains 13th century buildings possibly great hall recently
Urquhart Castle