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Behind the pink-harled walls of the fairy-tale castle,
Balnagown- home to a succession of Lairds, heroes and
Clan Chiefs since the 15th Century- has seen its fortunes
change and façade alter dramatically since the
original building was constructed in 1490.
From the embellishments of the nobility who inherited
the castle down the centuries through to the dark days
of near dilapidation and bankruptcy in the 1960s, Balnagown’s
turbulent history has undergone an uplift in fortune
since the acquisition in 1972 by its new benefactor,
Mr Mohamed Al-Fayed, whose passion for the extensive
and meticulous restoration programme has seen The Balnagown
Estate painstakingly restored to its former glory.
Some sources claim that the castle dates from Hugh
of Rarichies’ time, but the earliest documentary
evidence for the Medieval tower house which forms the
nucleus of the west end of the present building is around
1490. It Is possible that some form of building may
have occupied the site prior to that although it Is
likely it would have been of a more modest stature.
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| Sir Charles Ross,
Ninth Baronet. This portrait was painted in 1894
when the Laird came of age. Clad in Hunting Ross
tartan, he is dressed as the Clan Chief with three
eagle feathers in his bonnet. |
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| In the mid 1960s
Balnagown had descended into a sorry state of disrepair
and was close to bankruptcy and total disintegration. |
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| Mohamed Al Fayed
photographed with the Wallace Chair, which is said
to have belonged to William Wallace himself, and
holds pride of place in the Castle's Main Hall. |
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| The Ross arms were
adopted not only by the descendants of the Earls,
but also by the Lairds of Balnagown who succeeded
them. |
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Initially the tower house was built of rubble stone covered
by harling (the traditional Scottish equivalent of render),
with thick walls bound by barrel vaults which gave protection
from fire. Slits and gun loops assisted with fortification
and defence of the building. Originally, there would have
been a thatched roof, probably made of locally collected heather,
which would have been supported by whole tree trunks. The
tower was strategically built at a point on a bend of the
Balnagown River, which still runs through the Castle grounds,
thus creating a natural defence of cliffs on two sides.
 Balnagown’s
nobility gradually transformed the once humble building into
a majestic Castle by extending the original building and adding
various elements of architectural interest, such as turrets,
parapets, crenellations, coats-of-arms and windows. Other
changes, such as the landscaping of the gardens, elaborate
internal decoration and installation of driveways and paths
around the estate were also added gradually over time. With
the felicitous intervention of Mr. Al-Fayed, it is hoped the
castle can be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come.
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| Falls of Shin |
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| Nature at its finest |
| The River Shin is one of the great salmon rivers
in Scotland with perfect conditions for the Atlantic Salmon returning to
spawn. The Visitors Centre is regarded as one of the best viewing platforms
in Britain to witness this spectacular natural wonder. |
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