Rait Castle

[Natbynature94]

The castle was originally a property of the Comyn family, who took the name of de Rait. Sir Alexander Rait killed the third Thane of Cawdor (chief of Clan Calder), and then fled south where he married the heiress of Hallgreen.The castle later passed from the de Raits to the Mackintosh family and then to the Campbell family.

In 1442, when the castle passed to the Mackintoshes from the de Rait family, a feast was held at the castle between the two families which ended in the slaughter of most of the Comyns and de Raits. The laird blamed his daughter, whom he chased around the castle. She climbed out of a window but he chopped off her hands and she fell to her death. The castle is said to be haunted by her ghost, with no hands.

The Duke of Cumberland is said to have stayed at the castle before the Battle of Culloden in 1746, although the last recorded reference to the castle was in 1596.

American singer Bonnie Raitt is a descendant of the Rait clan, and visited Rait Castle in 1990.

A lovely little site for a picnic or a photo op

 

[Foxylady]

Fabulous remains and really lovely photos. Good stuff, Nat, and welcome to DP.