Cawdor Castle. A magical name, romantically linked with MacBeth by Shakespeare. The medieval tower and drawbridge are still intact and generations of art lovers and scholars are responsible for the eclectic collection of paintings, tapestries, furniture, books and porcelain to be found in the castle. The facilities: three beautiful gardens - the flower garden, the wild garden and the newly restored walled garden; 5 colour coded nature trails through spectacular mature mixed woodland; nine-hole golf course and putting green; licensed restaurant in the castle which serves hot meals, snacks and home baking; snack bar and picnic area; gift shop with a large selection of Scottish crafts, book shop and wool shop with the best of Scottish cashmere. Cawdor Castle is open to the public every year from May 1st to the second Sunday in October, daily from 10am to 5.30pm, with last admission at 5pm. The castle is situated between Inverness and Nairn on the B9090 off the A96. The tower, which dominates farmland and forest, was built around a small holly tree which died when deprived of daylight in 1372. The tree, a symbol of life and good fortune, was possibly intended to protect the castle and its inhabitants. If that were the case, it served its purpose well as Cawdor Castle survived virtually unscathed many turbulent years of Scottish history. Though fortified in 1454, the castle was intended as a private home and has for some 600 years been the residence of the Cawdor family.
