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Around Nairn Kilravock Cawdor Brodie Castles Invernesshire Scotland
Nairn is an excellent base for exploring the coast and Speyside countryside to the south. The site of the Battle of Culloden is just 12 miles away. Check our Culloden page for more information.
There are several castles within easy travelling distance of Narin; Kilravock, Cawdor and Brodie.
Kilravock Castle Croy Inverness
Kilravock Castle has been the seat of the Roses since the 15th century. The tower having been built in 1460 and the mansion house added in 1553, all of which is surrounded by grounds covering 40 acres in which many ancient trees stand.
The castle is open to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2.30pm and 4.00pm. Group bookings are welcomed by appointment. Tel: 01667 493258 to book. B&B, functions, weddings can also be booked at the castle.
Cawdor Castle Invernesshire Scotland
Fourteenth century Cawdor Castle, eight miles east of Culloden, is mostly visited for its association with Shakespeare's Macbeth. The witches predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor inciting his doomed pursuit of the title. It is certainly everything you could wish for from a castle with high turrets and towers watched over by gargoyles as well as a drawbridge, hidden passageways and dungeons. It is also believed to be haunted by two ghosts, a lady in a blue velvet dress and John Campbell, the first Lord Cawdor.
The castle is still used as a family home to the Campbells of Cawdor, but is open to the public from May to October between 10am-5.30pm. Entrance fees allow you to explore the castle and its grounds in which are gardens and nature trails. There is also a restaurant, shop and 9-hole golf course which is open 10am-5pm every day from 1 May until the second Sunday in October.
Check the official Cawdor Castle website, link right, for more information including details of salmon fishing on the River Findhorn on the estate.
Brodie Castle Near Inverness
Brodie Castle is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is just seven miles east of Nairn.
It is a 16th century tower house that was home to the Brodie family until the late 20th century. It is now packed with antiques, paintings and a library with 6,000 books open to the public from March to October. You can take a guided tour around the castle or wander at your leisure through the grounds that contain woodland walks and a pond with hides for watching the wildlife.
Check their website for up-to-date opening times and entrance fees, link right.
Around Nairn - Culbin Sands Nature Reserves and Walks
For a more in depth look at the wildlife around Nairn try the RSPB's reserve at Culbin Sands. The reserve overlooks the Moray Firth and is one of the largest shingle and sand dune bars in Britain. This area with its extensive saltmarsh and intertidal mud and sandflats is hugely important for large numbers of sea ducks, bar-tailed godwits, oystercatchers and knots so make sure you take your binoculars. The best time to see the sea ducks is off-shore in winter. This whole area is protected by various wildlife designations.
The Culbin Sands area has also long yielded evidence of prehistoric habitation with several fling and bronze arrowheads and jewellery having been found on Culbin shore. Most of these are in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh as well as a few specimens in Elgin and Forres museums.
Culbin Forest, a Forestry Commission plantation on former sand dunes, has a network of walks through the forest including themed trails such as a "Flower of the Forest" trail and an "All Abilities" trail. Some native animals have now made this area their home including pine martens, crested tits and crossbills. Check their website for more information, link right. The Highland Ranger Service also produce an events programme for the year including walks to highlight the wildlife and heritage of the Nairn area. Check their website, link right, for the up-to-date programme or contact details of rangers in the area.
One of the ever popular wildlife related excursions are the boat trips on the Moray Firth to watch the dolphins. Find out more on our Moray Firth page.
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