Strome Castle is a ruined castle on the shore of

Loch Carron Loch Carron (Scottish Gaelic: "Loch Carrann") is a sea loch on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands, which separates the Lochalsh peninsula from the Applecross peninsula, and from the Stomeferry headland east of Loc ...

in Stromemore, 3.5 miles south-west of the village of

Lochcarron Lochcarron ( gd, Loch Carrann) is a village, community and civil parish in the Wester Ross area of Highland, Scotland. It has a population of 923. Locality The name Lochcarron is also applied to the collection of small settlements strung out al ...

, on the headland between

and

Loch Kishorn Loch Kishorn ( gd, Ciseòrn) is a sea loch in the north-west Highlands of Scotland. Kishorn is a collective name used to refer to a group of populated settlements located next to the loch. Topography Loch Kishorn is a northern branch of Loch C ...

, on the west coast of the

Scottish Highlands The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Sco ...

History

The castle was originally built by the MacDonald

Earl of Ross The Earl or Mormaer of Ross was the ruler of the province of Ross in northern Scotland. Origins and transfers In the early Middle Ages, Ross was part of the vast earldom of Moray. It seems to have been made a separate earldom in the mid 12th ...

in the 15th century. In 1472, the castle was owned by the

Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh The Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh was a Scottish family and a branch of the larger Clan Donald. History The MacDonald of Lochalsh branch was founded by Celestine MacDonald (d.1476). Celestine MacDonald was the second son of Alexander of Islay, Ear ...

and Alan MacDonald Dubh, 12th Chief of the

Clan Cameron Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands lies Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The Chie ...

was constable on behalf of the MacDonalds of Lochalsh. In 1539 King

James V of Scotland James V (10 April 1512 – 14 December 1542) was List of Scottish monarchs, King of Scotland from 9 September 1513 until his death in 1542. He was crowned on 21 September 1513 at the age of seventeen months. James was the son of James IV of Sco ...

granted the castle to the

Clan MacDonell of Glengarry Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill Ghlinne Garaidh) is a Scottish clan and is a branch of the larger Clan Donald.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl o ...

and Hector Munro, I of Erribol, of the

Clan Munro Clan Munro (; gd, Clann an Rothaich ) is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically the clan was based in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional origins of the clan give its founder as Donald Munro who came from the north of Ireland an ...

was constable of the castle for the MacDonells of Glengarry.Munro, R.W. (1987). ''Mapping the Clan Munro''. Published by the Clan Munro Association. In the aftermath of the

Battle of Morar The Battle of Morar was a Scottish clan battle fought in 1602, near Loch Morar, in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between the Clan MacDonell of Glengarry against the Clan Mackenzie who were supported by men of the Clan Ross and Andrew ...

which took place in 1602, the castle was besieged by

Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Lord Mackenzie of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie, the first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail (–1611), was a Highland clan chief who secured for himself and his heirs the entirety of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and successfully pursued a bloody feud with the Macdonell ...

, chief of the

Clan Mackenzie Clan Mackenzie ( gd, Clann Choinnich ) is a Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional genealogies trace the ancestors of the Mackenzie chiefs to the 12th century. Howev ...

, assisted by their allies the

Clan Matheson Clan Matheson ( gd, Clann Mhathain ) is a Highland Scottish clan. History Origins of the clan The surname Matheson has more than one anglicization of its Scottish Gaelic derivation.Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). ''Collins Scottish C ...

and Andrew Munro of

Novar Novar may refer to: Companies *Novar plc - the international conglomerate based in the United Kingdom, that was acquired in 2005 by Honeywell. *Novar Controls - a subsidiary of Honeywell, and former subsidiary of Novar plc. Places *Novar House ...

. After the MacDonells surrendered it was demolished and blown up. The MacDonells of Glengarry built a new castle further inland called

Invergarry Castle Invergarry Castle in the Scottish Highlands was the seat of the Chiefs of the Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, a powerful branch of the Clan Donald. The castle's position overlooking Loch Oich on Creagan an Fhithich – the Raven's Rock – in th ...

. In 1939 the ruined Strome Castle was presented to the

National Trust for Scotland The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland ( gd, Urras Nàiseanta na h-Alba), is a Scottish conservation organisation. It is the largest membership organ ...

. Today the castle comprises a courtyard and the remains of a square tower.

References

External links

* * * * {{Coord, 57, 21, 32.93, N, 5, 33, 21.08, W, region:GB, display=title Clan MacDonald of Glengarry National Trust for Scotland properties Ruined castles in Highland (council area) Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Highland