Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 39 on 23/06/2008.

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Leod and clear

Charles Douglas visits Castle Leod, near Strathpeffer, headquarters of the Clan Mackenzie

From its name you might imagine Castle Leod to be associated with Clan Macleod and you would not be wrong, although it is today the ancestral seat of the Mackenzie earls of Cromartie, and has been for almost four centuries.

Occupying a magnificent setting below Ben Wyvis and overlooking the Cromartie Firth in the North East of Scotland, Castle Leod's parkland boasts some of the finest trees in the land, the star attractions being the largest tree in the United Kingdom, a Wellingtonia, and a Spanish Chestnut which was planted in 1550, the earliest known planting date of any tree in Britain.

The red sandstone L-Plan tower house, originally built around 1480, was modified in 1606 by Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Tarbat who, in the year before, had married his cousin Margaret Macleod of Lewis. When this lady inherited the Charters for the MacLeod land on the island of Lewis, the fortunes of the Mackenzies seriously took off.

At the same time, this inheritance settled a long-standing feud between the two clans over the west coast Baron of Coigach. In celebration of their union are carved, in the northern elevation of the castle, the initials RMK and MMC together with the date 1616, marking the finishing of the major alterations to the building.

Although it has seen both good times and bad, Castle Leod has weathered the passage of time superbly. That it was built for defence can be seen from the eight foot thick walls, and the number of gun loops and arrow slit windows of the façad.....

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By Charles Douglas

Section : Scotland Houses

Page number : 14