Castles of Clan Mackay

Castle Varrich
Castle Varrich, near Tongue in Sutherland, was the traditional seat of the Mackay chiefs before the 17th century. Perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop above the Kyle of Tongue, the two-storey tower may have been built in the 14th century atop a much earlier Norse fort. It served as a defensive lookout and symbol of Mackay authority in Strathnaver. Though abandoned in favor of nearby Tongue House, the ruin survives today with partially intact walls and commanding views. It remains one of the clan’s most iconic historic sites.

House of Tongue (Tongue House)
Tongue House became the principal residence of the Mackay chiefs after Castle Varrich was abandoned in the 17th century. Built around 1678 and expanded over time, it served as the seat of the Lords Reay, who led the clan into the modern era. The house was attacked and burned during Cromwell’s occupation but was rebuilt by the Mackays. It remained in family hands until it was sold in 1829. Tongue House still stands and is occasionally opened to the public.

Borve Castle (Farr)
Borve Castle, near Bettyhill on the Sutherland coast, was used by the Mackays as a stronghold in the 15th and 16th centuries. It became notorious for its role in raids and conflicts with neighboring clans. In 1554, the castle was destroyed by cannon fire under orders from the Scottish Regent after the Mackays refused to submit to royal authority. Its fall marked a major turning point in clan politics. Today, only fragments of the structure survive on a coastal promontory.

Balnakeil House
Balnakeil House, located near Durness in northwest Sutherland, was a residence of a cadet branch of Clan Mackay from the early 17th century. The house replaced an earlier ecclesiastical site and served as a comfortable home for the Mackays in the parish of Durness. It was described as second in grandeur only to Tongue House. Surrounded by dunes and overlooking the sea, the house remains privately owned. It reflects the clan’s reach into the remote far northwest.

Bighouse
Bighouse, near Melvich on the Caithness coast, was the seat of the Mackays of Bighouse, a cadet branch of the clan. Built in the 18th century, it replaced an earlier defensive structure and became a fashionable laird’s residence. The house was occupied by the family until the 20th century and has since been restored as a private estate and occasional hotel. It sits in wooded surroundings on the banks of the River Halladale. The estate reflects the prosperity of the Mackays in Caithness.

Dirlot Castle
Dirlot Castle, in central Caithness, passed into Mackay hands in the late 15th century through marriage. Originally built by the Cheynes, the castle was a small two-storey tower on a rock above the River Thurso. It later belonged to the Gunns and Sutherlands before being inherited by a Mackay heiress. Only fragments remain today, but the site’s turbulent history tells of the many clans who fought over it. It marks the edge of the Mackays’ territorial influence.

Dounreay Castle
Dounreay Castle, west of Thurso, was held by the Mackays in the 17th century after passing from Sinclair ownership. The tower house stood near the sea and was used as a residence into the 19th century. Now a ruin, it lies within the grounds of the former Dounreay nuclear facility. The castle’s simple rectangular design and stair tower are still visible. Its history ties the Mackays to the northern coast of Caithness.

Loch Stack Castle
Loch Stack Castle was a probable Mackay outpost near Scourie in western Sutherland. Though now lost, it may have been a fortified island or crannog used as a refuge or hunting lodge. The castle served the Mackays of Reay in the 15th and 16th centuries. No ruins remain, but the location’s strategic value is evident. It reflects the clan’s control of western highland passes.

Melness House
Melness House, located across the Kyle from Tongue, was another important residence of the Mackays of Strathnaver. The estate was involved in the Skirmish of Tongue in 1746, when local Mackays intercepted Jacobite gold intended for Bonnie Prince Charlie. A 19th-century house now stands on the estate, but earlier structures would have served the family for centuries. The site overlooks the water and maintains a historic connection to the clan. It symbolizes the Mackays’ loyalty to the Hanoverian government.

Scourie Castle
Scourie Castle was the seat of the Mackays of Scourie, a cadet branch known for producing General Hugh Mackay, commander at the Battle of Killiecrankie. The original tower likely stood near the bay and was replaced by a later mansion. Scourie House now occupies the site and serves as a hotel. Traces of the old castle remain in the stonework. The estate is a reminder of the clan’s military legacy.

Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Mackay

Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Earls of Sutherland, was frequently at odds with Clan Mackay. The families feuded throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1746, Jacobite troops sought refuge at Dunrobin and were captured with the help of Mackay militia. The castle’s French-style turrets and gardens stand in contrast to the Mackays’ more austere towers. Still, its history intersects with that of the clan through warfare and politics.

Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle served as a prison and is linked to the death of Iye Du Mackay in the mid-16th century. After the fall of Borve Castle, he was captured and imprisoned at Dumbarton or later Edinburgh Castle, where he died. Though far from Mackay lands, the fortress played a grim role in the clan’s leadership struggles. The castle itself stands atop a volcanic rock and served as a key royal fortress. It remains one of the oldest fortified sites in Britain.

Inverness Castle
Inverness Castle, though never a Mackay stronghold, was defended by Mackay troops during the Jacobite risings. In 1715 and 1745, Mackay men helped garrison the castle for the Hanoverian government. Their actions helped secure the Highlands against Jacobite forces. The present structure is a 19th-century courthouse, but the site has long served as a regional stronghold. It reflects the clan’s political loyalties and military support for the Crown.

Balnagown Castle
Balnagown Castle, ancestral home of Clan Ross, was involved in a long-standing feud with the Mackays. Despite blood ties through marriage, the two clans fought at Tarbat and Aldy Charrish in the late 1400s. The Mackay chief Angus Roy was killed near Balnagown, sparking retaliation. The castle, now a grand estate, was never held by the Mackays. It remains a symbol of historic clan conflict and rivalry.

References

Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Grimble, I. (1973). The World of Rob Donn. Edinburgh: Canongate.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle Records and Listings.
MacKay, R. (1829). History of the House and Clan of Mackay. Edinburgh: Anderson.
Clan Mackay Society. (n.d.). Records of the Clan.
Fraser, J. (1954). The Northern Highlands in the 17th Century. Scottish History Society.