Dunrobin Castle, Scotland
Dunrobin is the most northerly of the great houses of Scotland.. It is now lived in by the Countess of Sutherland. The Castle, which overlooks the sea, boasts magnificent formal gardens, also designed by Sir Charles Barry. The layout of the gardens was inspired by the gardens at Versailles and contain some of the few remaining parterres in the French style with a definite Scottish flavour. Unfortunately the Sutherlands are best known, not for having the biggest house, but for their role during the highland clearances. Many of the worst atrocities seen in Scotland were committed on Sutherland lands. The castle is open to visitors during the summer.
Sir Charles Barry, was retained in 1845 to completely re-model the castle. To change it from a fort to a house in the "Scottish Baronial" style that had become popular among the aristocracy. Barry had been the architect for the House of Commons in London and was much in demand. There are 189 rooms, making it the largest house in the northern Highlands.
There is a decided French influence to the whole project, including the gardens, based on Versailles.It has a distinct air of "French Scottish"Barry's house, with 189 rooms is in the popular vein. Much of Barry's interior was destroyed by a fire in 1915. The interior you see today is mainly the work of the Scottish architect, Sir Robert Lorimer.
The oldest part is a tower dating to 1401, but this is only visible from the internal courtyard. An L-shaped addition in the 17th century gave the castle an E-shape and formed the courtyard. The current appearance is the result of work carried out between 1845 - 1851, by the 2nd duke, which made Dunrobin the biggest country house in Scotland. In 1845, Sir Charles Barry, who had just completed the new Houses of Parliament, was employed to re-model the early Castle into a massive baronial residence inspired by Queen Victoria's new house at Balmoral. Much of Barry's interior was destroyed by fire in 1915 and the leading Scottish architect, Sir Robert Lorimer, re-designed all the main rooms.
Among the many military and ceremonial exhibits on display are the colours of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders. The 93rd was the famous thin red line at Balaclava, and was the successor of various regiments raised by the family during the Seven Years and Napoleonic Wars, later to become part of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
North of Inverness, near the village of Golspie.