Spectacular Highland castle rescued from ruin set to open to public this weekend
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AN Easter Ross castle rescued from ruin by a can-do couple will be throwing open its doors to visitors this weekend.
Ballone Castle is opening its doors on Saturday (September 2) and inviting visitors to learn more about its history.
The castle, which commands fine sea views from its perch above the cliffs near Portmahomack, was built in 1590s but later fell into ruin.
It was rescued by Lachie Stewart and his wife Annie in the 1990s who undertook the mammoth task of restoring it. Lachie’s family had previous experience, having rebuilt Eilean Donan Castle in the 1920s.
It will be open as part of Scotland’s ‘Doors Open Day’ with conducted tours between 10am and 4pm. Admission is free although donations to the organisers, Tain and Easter Ross Trust are welcome.
The house has a massive central hall with a huge hearth but enhanced by under-floor heating. The six bedrooms and four bathrooms are accessed by narrow spiral staircases on the guided tour.
The castle built in 1590 by the Dunbar family is a medieval Z plan Tower House. It has a strong central tower and two further towers on opposite corners, unusually with one square and one round.
Richard Littlewood of the Civic Trust said: “It is a fine late example of a Z Plan Tower House, whose famous larger examples are Brodie Castle and Castle Fraser.”
It was sold to Sir Rorie MacKenzie of Coigach in 1623, when an extension was added to create a brewhouse and bakery. It was superseded as the main Mackenzie residence by the purchase of New Tarbat House in 1656 and it is believed that it was then unoccupied from 1693.
The castle became roofless after the 1745 rebellion and by the mid-19th century had lost much of its fine detail. It continued to be neglected for nearly 300 years until the ruin was bought by Mr and Mrs Stewart who set about restoring it as a family home.
