Castle Stuart

Castle Stuart is a substantial tower house dating to the early 17th century belonging to the Earl of Moray. Although it has previously served as a hotel, it is not currently accessible to the public, although visible in part from surrounding roads.

The lands here were originally called Hallhill, and associated with the large motte at Petty erected by the de Moravia family. These had been held by the Mackintoshes from previous earls of Moray and the Crown. They disputed the grant to the Regent Moray and seized the castle when it had been completed, claiming it as compensation. The earl paid the Mackintoshes off and his descendants occupied the castle until the 1640s, when it was abandoned. Consisting of a rectangular hall block with two square flanking towers, the castle is planned in a regular style consistent with accommodation always being the primary focus. The castle fell into disrepair and then ruin until the 1980s when it was restored for commercial use.

HES Canmore database entry
Highland Council Historic Environment Record entry