Daviot Castle facts for kids

Daviot Castle was an old castle from the 1400s. It was located in Scotland, about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Inverness. The castle was near the River Nairn in a place called Daviot. People also knew it as Strathnairn Castle. Today, only parts of it remain, and these are protected as an important historical site.

The Story of Daviot Castle

Who Built Daviot Castle?

Long ago, a castle was first built here by a family called Moravia. Later, a new castle was built by the Lindsay family. This was likely David Lindsay, 1st Earl of Crawford. After that, the Mackintosh family took over the castle. They built a house very close to it.

Interesting Discoveries

In 1856, something cool was found at the castle site. It was an old stone axe head with green veins. This axe head was shown at an exhibition in Edinburgh. It helped people learn more about the area's past.

What Daviot Castle Looked Like

Castle Design

Daviot Castle was a strong fortress. It had a main tower, called a keep, and a large open area, known as a courtyard. The castle was built on a flat piece of land that stuck out like a small hill. This made it naturally protected on three sides.

Defenses of the Castle

The castle had very steep slopes on its north, west, and east sides. These slopes made it hard for enemies to attack. On the south side, there was probably a dry ditch and a drawbridge. This drawbridge would have been pulled up to keep people out. Sadly, there are no signs of the ditch today.

Shape and Towers

Experts believe the castle was square-shaped. It likely had four round towers at each corner. In the early 1700s, the castle walls and towers were still standing. Even in 1840, some ruins were visible. However, much of the castle was later taken apart. Its stones were used to make lime for farm fertilizer.

What Remains Today

Today, only a few parts of Daviot Castle are left. You can see a small part of a round tower. This tower is about 13 feet (4.1 meters) across. Its walls are thick, about 5.6 feet (1.7 meters). This tower is thought to be from the castle's northeast corner. There is also a small piece of the main wall, called a curtain wall. This wall section is about 1.6 feet (0.5 meters) long. You can also see the foundations of another tower. These small remains help us imagine what the grand Daviot Castle once looked like.