Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle will forever be associated with Shakespeare's Macbeth, whose protagonist is named Thane of Cawdor before his bloody rise to power. While the real Macbeth died centuries before the castle was built, the connection has given Cawdor an irresistible romantic mystique. The medieval tower house at its heart dates from the late 14th century and remains one of Scotland's finest examples of a fortified private residence.

The castle has been home to the Cawdor family for over 600 years and retains the atmosphere of a much-loved home rather than a museum. The rooms are filled with fine furniture, tapestries, and portraits accumulated over centuries, while the tower house preserves its medieval character including the legendary holly tree around which it was supposedly built. The family's wit and personality shine through in the room descriptions.

The gardens at Cawdor are exceptional in their own right, featuring a walled garden, flower garden, and wild garden, each with its own character. The surrounding Big Wood is one of the finest remaining fragments of ancient Scottish woodland, carpeted with bluebells in spring. The combination of castle, gardens, and woodland makes Cawdor a place where you could happily spend an entire day.