While exploring the Scottish Highlands in the 1990s, a family of four came across the neglected Dalcross Castle. Captivated by the building and its history, they bought it in 1996. The castle was built in 1620 for one of the daughters of the eighth Lord Lovat, chief of Clan Fraser. It was used by the Duke of Cumberland during the mustering of troops for the 1746 Battle of Culloden, and troops stayed in the castle or crossed it on their way to the battlefield. After falling into disrepair in the 19th century, the building was renovated in late Victorian times and restored to habitable accommodation, but had gradually become run-down.



A couple of years after buying it, the family enlisted help from Maxwell & Company Architects. “The clients wanted to convert the property from an unloved cold and damp castle into something warm, cozy and habitable that could be used by family and friends,” James Maxwell says. The skillful and sensitive renovation introduced 21st-century comforts while maintaining the character and history of the building, creating a welcoming Scottish escape for the family from their busy lives in London.