Cawdor Castle

Heritage Site in Nairnshire

Scotland

Cawdor Castle

Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood
Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood Credit: Douglas Nelson

Cawdor Castle, located in Nairnshire, Scotland, is a well-preserved medieval fortress that holds significant historical and cultural importance. This heritage site is situated near the village of Cawdor, approximately 10 miles east of Inverness. Built around a 15th-century tower house, the castle is surrounded by picturesque gardens and woodland, creating a breathtaking setting.

The castle's origins date back to 1370, when it was constructed as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. Over the centuries, several additions and alterations have been made, resulting in a unique blend of architectural styles, including Gothic, Jacobean, and Georgian. Despite these changes, the castle has managed to retain its original character.

Cawdor Castle is renowned for its association with Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, though the castle itself was built long after the events of the play took place. Nevertheless, the connection has attracted visitors from around the world who are intrigued by the castle's association with this famous literary work.

Inside, visitors can explore the castle's opulent interiors, which are adorned with intricate tapestries, antique furniture, and an impressive collection of artwork. The castle also houses a fascinating museum that showcases historical artifacts, including ancient weapons, armor, and personal belongings of the Cawdor family.

The castle's grounds are equally captivating, featuring beautifully manicured gardens, a walled garden, and a nature trail that winds through the surrounding woodland. The gardens offer a tranquil environment that contrasts the castle's imposing exterior, providing visitors with an opportunity to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings.

Today, Cawdor Castle stands as a testament to Scotland's rich history and architectural heritage, attracting visitors who are eager to immerse themselves in the castle's captivating past.

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Cawdor Castle Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.522/-3.928 or Grid Reference NH8449. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood
Junction of unclassified road and old Military Road on edge of Cawdor Wood
Field at Old Newton of Budgate
Field at Old Newton of Budgate
Farmland at Old Newton of Budgate
Farmland at Old Newton of Budgate
Forest track into Cawdor Wood
Forest track into Cawdor Wood
Cawdor Parish Church
Cawdor Parish Church
Forest track entering Budgate Plantation
Forest track entering Budgate Plantation
Cawdor Castle and Gardens Cawdor Castle dates from the late 14th century and was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor.
Cawdor Castle and Gardens
Cawdor Castle dates from the late 14th century and was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor.
Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth.

The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth.

The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Burn Stream flowing behind Cawdor Castle.
Cawdor Burn
Stream flowing behind Cawdor Castle.
Cawdor Village, Back Street Cawdor (Scottish Gaelic: Caladair) is a village in the Highland area of Scotland. The village lies 5 miles south-southwest of Nairn and 12 miles east of Inverness. The village is in the Historic County of Nairnshire. Cawdor (Scottish Gaelic: Caladair) is a village in the Highland area of Scotland. The village lies 5 miles south-southwest of Nairn and 12 miles east of Inverness. The village is in the Historic County of Nairnshire. The name "Cawdor" is the English pronunciation and spelling of the ancient and original name Calder. In the early 19th century, the Lord at the time was residing in England and changed the name of the castle, town and clan so that it would match the name in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth.
Cawdor Village, Back Street
Cawdor (Scottish Gaelic: Caladair) is a village in the Highland area of Scotland. The village lies 5 miles south-southwest of Nairn and 12 miles east of Inverness. The village is in the Historic County of Nairnshire. Cawdor (Scottish Gaelic: Caladair) is a village in the Highland area of Scotland. The village lies 5 miles south-southwest of Nairn and 12 miles east of Inverness. The village is in the Historic County of Nairnshire. The name "Cawdor" is the English pronunciation and spelling of the ancient and original name Calder. In the early 19th century, the Lord at the time was residing in England and changed the name of the castle, town and clan so that it would match the name in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth.
Woodland path near Cawdor Castle
Woodland path near Cawdor Castle
Woodland Path behind Cawdor Castle
Woodland Path behind Cawdor Castle
Wooden Footbridge across Cawdor Burn
Wooden Footbridge across Cawdor Burn
Cawdor Castle Maze Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth.

The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Cawdor Castle Maze
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
Minotaur in the Labyrinth at Cawdor Castle The bronze Minotaur sculpture by Gregory Ryan sits at the centre of the labyrinth in the Walled Garden, more than three metres above the trimmed hedges.
Minotaur in the Labyrinth at Cawdor Castle
The bronze Minotaur sculpture by Gregory Ryan sits at the centre of the labyrinth in the Walled Garden, more than three metres above the trimmed hedges.
Cawdor Castle Paradise Garden The sculpture "Adam and Eve leaving Paradise", by the French artist George Jeanclos, is at the centre of the Paradise Garden within Cawdor's walled garden.
Cawdor Castle Paradise Garden
The sculpture "Adam and Eve leaving Paradise", by the French artist George Jeanclos, is at the centre of the Paradise Garden within Cawdor's walled garden.
The Paradise Garden at Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB1728">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth.

The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_of_Gardens_and_Designed_Landscapes_in_Scotland">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
The Paradise Garden at Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. It was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. It is a Category A listed building (LB1728 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The castle is known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, in which the title character is made "Thane of Cawdor". However, the story is highly fictionalised, and the castle itself, which is never directly referred to in Macbeth, was built many years after the life of the 11th-century King Macbeth. The castle grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland LinkExternal link , the national listing of significant gardens. The gardens were first laid out early 17th century; altered in the mid-19th century and the Flower Garden replanted in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century.
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Cawdor Castle is located at Grid Ref: NH8449 (Lat: 57.522, Lng: -3.928)

What 3 Words

///districts.fended.waking. Near Nairn, Highland

Nearby Locations

Cawdor Castle

Related Wikis

Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle is a castle in the parish of Cawdor in Nairnshire, Scotland. It is built around a 15th-century tower house, with substantial additions in...

Cawdor

Cawdor (Scottish Gaelic: Caladair) is a village and parish in the Highland council area, Scotland. The village is 5 miles (8 kilometres) south-southwest...

Culcharry

Culcharry is a small residential settlement, close to the village of Cawdor and the hamlet of Brackla, lying 4 miles southwest of Nairn, in Nairnshire...

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 57.522,-3.928
Cawdor
Name En: Cawdor
Name Gd: Caladair
Place: village
Wikidata: Q1028188
Wikipedia: en:Cawdor
Lat/Long: 57.525153/-3.9300792
Traffic Signals
Lat/Long: 57.5262824/-3.9304043
Bus Stop
Church
Naptan AtcoCode: 670030047
Naptan Bearing: NE
Naptan CommonName: Church
Naptan Indicator: opp
Naptan Landmark: Cawdor Church
Naptan NaptanCode: 45326549
Naptan Street: B9090
Naptan Verified: no
Source: naptan_import
Lat/Long: 57.525175/-3.9334436
Bus Stop
Church
Naptan AtcoCode: 670030047A
Naptan Bearing: SW
Naptan CommonName: Church
Naptan Indicator: o/s
Naptan Landmark: Cawdor Church
Naptan NaptanCode: 45326562
Naptan Street: B9090
Naptan Verified: no
Source: naptan_import
Lat/Long: 57.5251457/-3.9324232
Bus Stop
Castle Entrance
Naptan AtcoCode: 6700712503
Naptan Bearing: W
Naptan CommonName: Castle Entrance
Naptan Indicator: o/s
Naptan Landmark: Cawdor Castle
Naptan NaptanCode: 45327869
Naptan Street: Castle Drive
Naptan Verified: no
Source: naptan_import
Lat/Long: 57.524064/-3.9244164
Ticket office - Cawdor Castle
Information: office
Tourism: information
Lat/Long: 57.5241078/-3.9249827
Access: no
Barrier: yes
Lat/Long: 57.5211704/-3.9276726
Entrance: yes
Lat/Long: 57.5244947/-3.9265074
Power: substation
Lat/Long: 57.5250316/-3.9283478
Post Box
Collection Times: Mo-Fr 12:00; Sa 12:00
Operator: Royal Mail
Post Box Manufacturer: Carron Company, Stirlingshire
Post Box Type: lamp
Ref: IV12 26
Royal Cypher: scottish_crown
Source: survey
Lat/Long: 57.5244468/-3.9318263
Telephone
Booth: K6
Covered: booth
Man Made: telephone_box
Note: payphone is proposed for removal
Source: survey
Lat/Long: 57.5243989/-3.9320786
Restaurant
The Cawdor Tavern
Addr Postcode: IV12 5XP
Cuisine: regional
Website: https://cawdortavern.co.uk/
Lat/Long: 57.5251014/-3.929176
Bar
Snack Bar
Lat/Long: 57.5236095/-3.9249703
Wool Shop
Shop: boutique
Lat/Long: 57.5238544/-3.9250562
Bench
Lat/Long: 57.5246307/-3.9260246
Toilets
Fee: no
Female: no
Male: yes
Portable: no
Toilets Disposal: flush
Toilets Handwashing: yes
Unisex: no
Lat/Long: 57.5237724/-3.9250483
Shop: gift
Lat/Long: 57.5241868/-3.9263476
Cafe
Lat/Long: 57.5241403/-3.92655
Toilets
Fee: no
Female: yes
Male: no
Portable: no
Toilets Disposal: flush
Toilets Handwashing: yes
Unisex: no
Lat/Long: 57.5239898/-3.9251046
Defibrillator
Defibrillator Location: on post beside road
Emergency: defibrillator
Operator: Lucky2BHere
Ref GB The Circuit: 9C875D57-E5C7-4C1C-AEF7-ABD3013438E9
Lat/Long: 57.5260988/-3.9301061
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 57.5255771/-3.9330781
Bench
Backrest: yes
Lat/Long: 57.5234548/-3.9262985
Bench
Backrest: yes
Lat/Long: 57.5240266/-3.9263762
Bench
Backrest: yes
Lat/Long: 57.5239178/-3.925594
Artwork Type: installation
Tourism: artwork
Lat/Long: 57.5252423/-3.9266656
Entrance: main
Lat/Long: 57.5242824/-3.9264271
Entrance: main
Lat/Long: 57.5240885/-3.9259411
Fountain
Covered: no
Drinking Water: no
Indoor: no
Lit: no
Lat/Long: 57.5233568/-3.9261312
Fountain
Covered: no
Drinking Water: no
Indoor: no
Lit: no
Lat/Long: 57.5237362/-3.9266262
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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