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Dunrobin Castle, Scottish Highlands
Location: Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6SF (map and directions)
Dunrobin Castle, one of Scotland’s great houses, is located 50 miles north of Inverness, in the
Scottish highlands, overlooking the Moray Firth near Golspie and Dornoch. This French chateau-
style castle has 189 rooms (of which visitors can view roughly 20), making it the largest house in
the northern Highlands, and it is also one of Britain’s oldest continuously lived-in houses, dating
back to the 1300s. 
Dunrobin Castle © Dorcas Sinclair
History of Dunrobin CastleDuring the time of its construction, Dunrobin served as home to Earls of Sutherland, and later,
Dukes of Sutherland. The first structure was a small, square keep with windows looking out from a
cliff top view. This castle served exclusively as a defensive structure.
In the 16th century ownership of Dunrobin passed to the Gordon family who extended the keep
and added a large house and a courtyard in the 17th century. The Earldom was passed on to the
Gordons along with title to the house, and in 1745, when the Jacobites stormed Dunrobin suddenly
and unexpectedly due to Clan Sutherland’s support of the British government, the 17th Earl of
Sutherland escaped through the back door of the castle with seconds to spare. Upon the death of
the 18th Earl of Sutherland in 1766, ownership passed to his daughter Elizabeth whose politician
husband George Leveson-Gower became the 1st Duke of Sutherland.
In 1785 the house was extended and renovated again and it was the 2nd Duke of Sutherland
who commissioned architect Sir Charles Barry to completely re-model Dunrobin Castle. Barry had
designed the Palace of Westminster in London and took inspiration from Balmoral Castle to create
the structure. It is this version of Dunrobin which has almost completely endured through to the
present day. The 2nd Duke of Sutherland had eight children, which may have played a role in the
massive extensions and remodelling ordered for Dunrobin, which upon completion in 1851, stood
three times larger than the before the remodel.

Dunrobin Castle © Jack Spellingbacon
A fire in 1915 damaged much of the interior, at a time when the building was in use as a naval
hospital during World War I. Architect Sir Robert Lorimer renovated the house. In 1963 the 5th
Duke of Sutherland died and Dunrobin’s ownership was passed to his niece. However, as tradition
dictates Dukedom must be passed to a male heir, so John Egerton, Earl of Ellesmere became
Duke of Sutherland.
After a short stint as a boys' boarding school, Dunrobin house and grounds was made open to the
public in 1973. The Sutherland family retain a private area of the house which is not open to the
public.
The interior of Dunrobin includes a stunning collection of paintings, furniture and architectural
flair, while the exterior includes work inspired by the French architect Viollet-le-Duc, including the
pyramid-shaped roof over the main entrance and the gardens which were designed by Barry and
completed in 1850, using the French style of the Garden of Versailles. Dunrobin is open 1030-430 daily from 1st April to 15th October, with longer summer hours until
5:30pm.
View Dunrobin Castle in a larger map
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Other castles in Scottish Highlands
Achnacarry Castle
Ackergill Tower
Ardtornish Castle
Ardvreck Castle
Armadale Castle
Auchindoun Castle
Balconie Castle
Ballindalloch Castle
Balnagowan Castle
Balvenie Castle
Brodie Castle
Caisteal Maol
Carbisdale Castle
Cawdor Castle
Dornoch Castle
Duffus Castle
Dunbeath Castle
Dunrobin Castle
Duntulm Castle
Dunvegan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle
Foulis Castle
Gordon Castle
Castle Grant
Inverlochy Castle
Inverness Castle
Kilravock Castle
Kinloch Castle
Knock Castle
Castle Leod
Castle of Mey
Mingary Castle
Moniack Castle
Newmore Castle
Castle of Old Wick
Sinclair and Girnigoe Castle
Skelbo Castle
Skibo Castle
Spynie Castle
Strome Castle
Teaninich Castle
Castle Tioram
Tongue House
Tulloch Castle
Urquhart Castle
Varrich Castle
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