Castle Stuart | |
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Petty, Inverness, Scotland | |
Castle Stuart in 2009
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Coordinates | 57°31′41″N 4°06′22″W / 57.528°N 4.106°WCoordinates: 57°31′41″N 4°06′22″W / 57.528°N 4.106°W |
Grid reference | grid reference NH744494 |
Type | Tower house |
Site information | |
Owner | Private |
Condition | Restored |
Site history | |
Built | between 1619 and 1625 |
Built by | James Stuart, 3rd Earl of Moray |
In use | 17th century; 20th and 21st centuries |
Castle Stuart is a restored tower house on the banks of the Moray Firth, about 6.5 miles (10 km) northeast of Inverness.
The land the castle was built on was granted to James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray by his half-sister, Mary, Queen of Scots, following her return to Scotland in 1561. The successive murders of Stewart and his son-in-law, James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray, meant that the castle was finally completed by his grandson, James Stuart, 3rd Earl of Moray, in 1625.
Though the castle initially flourished, it fell into disuse as the fortunes of the House of Stuart sank during the English Civil War and Charles I was executed. The castle lay derelict for 300 years before being restored; it is currently used as a luxury hotel.
The seaside links golf course at Castle Stuart along Moray Firth opened eight years ago in 2009, co-designed by two Americans: managing partner Mark Parsinen and golf course architect Gil Hanse. It was voted as Best New Course for 2009 by Golf magazine.
The course hosted the Scottish Open in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016.
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