Castles of Clan Bain

Tulloch Castle
Tulloch Castle, located just outside Dingwall in Ross-shire, was the ancestral seat of the Bains of Tulloch from the mid-16th century. Duncan Bane was granted the barony of Tulloch in 1542, and the family held the estate until the 18th century. The castle features a 14th-century keep, later expanded with a great hall and residential wings. It is said to have had a secret tunnel connecting it to nearby Dingwall Castle. Today, Tulloch Castle is a restored hotel and home to the Clan Bain Society and museum exhibits.

Delny Castle
Delny Castle, near Invergordon in Easter Ross, was held by a branch of the Bain family in the 17th century. The estate had previously belonged to the Earls of Ross and Clan Munro before passing to the Bains of Delny, a cadet line of the Tulloch Bains. The castle itself has vanished, though records and maps confirm its location and historical importance. It was once a fortified residence and a regional seat of power. No visible ruins survive today.

Pitcairlie House
Pitcairlie House in Fife became associated with the Bains when John Bayne of Tulloch purchased the estate in 1658. The house incorporates a 14th-century tower house at its core, which was expanded in the 18th century into a Georgian mansion. John Bayne was a successful lawyer and descendant of the Bains of Tulloch. The estate reflects the clan’s presence beyond the Highlands. Pitcairlie remains a private home with historical significance and protected status.

Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Bain

Redcastle
Redcastle, on the Black Isle near Muir of Ord, became loosely associated with Clan Bain through the marriage of John Bain of Tulloch to Elizabeth Mackenzie of Redcastle in 1616. The castle was long held by the Mackenzies and built from red sandstone, giving it its name. Though the Bains never owned it, the marriage represented a key alliance. The castle was later abandoned and stands today as a roofless ruin. Its history ties closely to Bain expansion in the north.

Brahan Castle
Brahan Castle near Dingwall was the seat of the Mackenzies of Seaforth and served as a military base during the Royalist uprising of 1649. A Bain officer referred to as “Captain Bane of Brahan” was among those who helped seize Inverness during the conflict. The castle itself was demolished in the 20th century, though the estate remains. Its brief connection to the Bains underscores their alliance with Clan Mackenzie during key conflicts. The site is now marked by parkland and scattered remains.

Inverness Castle
Inverness Castle was stormed in 1649 by Royalist forces, including members of Clan Bain allied with the Mackenzies and Mackays. Although the clan never owned the castle, their participation in the attack reflects their active role in Highland politics. The original medieval fortress was later replaced by the current 19th-century courthouse. It overlooks the River Ness in the heart of Inverness. The Bain involvement marked their commitment to Royalist causes during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Dingwall Castle
Dingwall Castle, once a major royal fortress in Ross-shire, was near the early lands of Clan Bain. John Bain, the clan’s progenitor, settled in the area in the 15th century, and the family rose under the castle’s authority. Though never held by the Bains, the castle was central to the Crown’s presence in the region. It fell into ruin by the 18th century and was later dismantled. Its history reflects the setting in which the Bains established their power base.

References

Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle Records and Listings.
Mackenzie, A. (1898). History of the Mackenzies. Inverness: A. & W. Mackenzie.
Clan Bain Society. (n.d.). The History of the Bains of Tulloch.
National Library of Scotland. (n.d.). Maps of Ross-shire and the Black Isle.
Inverness Field Club. (n.d.). Old Inverness and the 1649 Siege.