Aldourie Castle facts for kids
Aldourie Castle is a historic castle located in Scotland. It sits right on the southern shore of Loch Ness, a famous lake. The castle is also near the village of Aldourie.
Originally, Aldourie Castle was a simpler building. It had a main rectangular part and a round tower at one corner. In the 1860s, a man named William Fraser-Tytler made the castle much bigger. He added many fancy features like more towers, special windows, and decorative stone carvings.
The castle and its large parkland, which is about 38.9 hectares (or 96 acres), have been carefully looked after. Between 2002 and 2010, and again in 2017, the castle went through big restoration projects. The old Victorian kitchen garden was also brought back to life. Students from the National Trust for Scotland helped with this work. The castle's gardens and parkland are considered very important in Scotland.
Contents
Discovering Aldourie Castle's Past
How Aldourie Castle Began
Aldourie Castle was first mentioned in records way back in 1625. At that time, it was known as a "laird's house," meaning it belonged to a Scottish landowner. It was owned by the Mackintosh family of Kyllachy.
The castle started as a main rectangular building with a round tower on its southwest side. In 1839, a two-story section was added to the west.
Big Changes by William Fraser-Tytler
In the 1860s, William Fraser-Tytler completely changed Aldourie Castle. He hired architects named Mackenzie & Matthews to expand the house in every direction. They added many features that were popular in Scottish castles from the early 1600s.
These additions included a round tower with a fancy railing, similar to one at Castle Fraser. They also put in special bay windows, decorative dormer windows, and small, pointed towers called turrets. You can also see stone supports called corbels and rope-like carvings.
More Additions and Famous Visitors
Later, between 1902 and 1904, another famous architect, Sir Robert Lorimer, added a new wing to the southeast side of the castle.
In 1893, a special British army unit called the Lovat Scouts was supposedly started at Aldourie. This happened thanks to Lord Lovat and Edward Fraser-Tytler.
Aldourie Castle Today's Owner
In 2015, a Danish billionaire named Anders Holch Povlsen bought Aldourie Castle for £15 million. He owns many estates in Scotland and is now the largest landowner there. Today, you can even rent the castle for private stays.
Where Aldourie Castle is Located
Aldourie's Beautiful Setting
Aldourie Castle is in a lovely spot called Strath Dores. It's nestled between the southern edge of Loch Ness and a valley that leads to Drumashie Moor.
The castle sits on a flat area above the loch. Its main lawn faces northwest, looking out over the water and the hills of Creag Dherag.
The Castle's Parkland and Surroundings
The castle's parkland covers about 38.9 hectares (96 acres). It stretches to the northeast and southeast of the main house. Thick woodlands surround and protect this area.
South of the parkland, there are farm fields. These fields are protected by rows of trees that also hide Aldourie Farm. The size of the parkland has stayed the same since the mid-1800s.
Aldourie Castle in Modern Times
What Aldourie Castle is Used For Now
Aldourie Castle is special because it's the only castle on Loch Ness that people can actually live in. Today, it's mainly used for private castle stays. This means groups can rent the entire castle for their own use.
While staying at the castle, guests can enjoy fun activities. These include clay pigeon shooting, archery, and boat tours on Loch Ness.
Restoring a Historic Building
Aldourie Castle is a very important building in Scotland. It's listed as a Category A historic building. This means it has special architectural or historic interest.
The castle had a lot of restoration work done between 2002 and 2010. This work focused on bringing back the original paintwork, wall paintings, and metal decorations inside the castle.
Bringing the Gardens Back to Life
In 2017, a big project started to restore the castle's grounds. This included bringing back the old Victorian kitchen garden. Students from the National Trust for Scotland helped with this important work. The beautiful gardens and parkland are officially recognized as important designed landscapes in Scotland.
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