Castles of Clan Cameron

Achnacarry Castle
Achnacarry Castle has been the seat of the Chiefs of Clan Cameron since the 17th century. The original structure was built around 1655 by Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel but was destroyed after the Jacobite Rising of 1745. A new Baronial-style mansion was built in 1802 and remains in the Cameron family to this day.

Tor Castle
Once the chief stronghold of Clan Cameron, Tor Castle was occupied by the clan from the 15th century until the mid-1600s. Located near Fort William, it was abandoned when Achnacarry was constructed. Only ruins remain today, including parts of a medieval tower house and courtyard.

Eilean nan Craobh
Known as “The Island of the Trees,” this islet in Loch Eil is considered the earliest known seat of the Cameron chiefs. It served as their residence in the 14th and 15th centuries before they moved to Tor Castle. It is now part of the shoreline at Corpach due to land reclamation.

Strome Castle
While not owned by Clan Cameron, Strome Castle became historically significant when Alan MacDonald Dubh Cameron, 12th Chief of Clan Cameron, served as constable of the castle in the 1470s. Located on Loch Carron, it was later destroyed by Clan Mackenzie in 1602.

Urquhart Castle
Although owned by Clan Grant, Urquhart Castle was the site of infamous raids by Clan Cameron in 1544–45 during a feud. The Camerons, allied with the MacDonells of Glengarry, attacked and plundered the estate. Located on Loch Ness, the castle is now one of the most visited ruins in Scotland.

Old Inverlochy Castle
Though not a Cameron possession, Inverlochy Castle is deeply tied to the clan’s history. Clan Cameron fought alongside the Marquis of Montrose against the Campbells at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645. The well-preserved 13th-century ruins lie just north of Fort William.

Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is linked to Clan Cameron through major military events. Clan members are believed to have fought at Bannockburn in 1314 and later supported the Jacobite siege of Stirling in 1746. Though not a Cameron stronghold, it features prominently in the clan’s martial history.

Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Cameron

Corgarff Castle
During the Jacobite Rising of 1745, Corgarff Castle in Aberdeenshire was briefly occupied by Jacobite forces, including some Cameron troops. It was later used as a Redcoat garrison to suppress Highland clans. Though never a Cameron seat, it played a role in the conflict involving the clan.

Lochiel House (Achnacarry Estate)
This residence near Achnacarry was used temporarily by members of the Cameron family during rebuilding phases and estate transitions. It does not qualify as a castle but holds local importance in Cameron heritage.

Fort Augustus
This military fort, established after the 1715 Jacobite Rising, was frequently at odds with the Camerons and other Highland clans. While never held by the Camerons, it served as a backdrop for many clan-related events during the Jacobite conflicts.

References

Cameron, A. (2021). The Clan Cameron: A concise history. Inverness: Highland Heritage Press.
Clan Cameron Association. (n.d.). Achnacarry Castle and the Clan Museum. Retrieved March 26, 2025, from https://www.clan-cameron.org
Coventry, M. (2010). The castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Highland Historic Environment Record. (n.d.). Tor Castle. Retrieved March 26, 2025, from https://her.highland.gov.uk
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Strome Castle. Retrieved March 26, 2025, from https://www.historicenvironment.scot
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Urquhart Castle. Retrieved March 26, 2025, from https://www.historicenvironment.scot
MacKinnon, C. (2015). Highland fortresses: The clans, the castles, and the conflicts. Edinburgh: Caledonia Publishing.
National Records of Scotland. (n.d.). Jacobite trials and executions. Retrieved March 26, 2025, from https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk
Ordnance Survey. (n.d.). Gazetteer of Scotland: Lochaber region. Retrieved March 26, 2025, from https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Reid, S. (2012). Highland clansmen 1689–1746. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s castles. London: Batsford.