Rait Castle is located 2.5 miles south of Nairn which is east of
Inverness on the east coast of Scotland.
Over the centuries, the building was owned by several different families. Around 1404 or 1405 Sir Alexander Gervaise de Rait is said to have killed the 4th Thane of
Cawdor whose son was subsequently given the castle. Less than 40 years later it appeared to have reverted to the Mackintoshes who were also previous owners.
The architecture is different to most types of Scottish castle and its construction may have been influenced English trends at the time as some of the Rait brothers were known to have visited England.
It is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman, daughter of the then Cumming laird. She died in tragic circumstances when she fell from one of the window ledges having had her hands cut off on her father's orders. He had invited Macintosh guests to a feast but planned to murder them and fearing that his daughter had given the game away, he had her swiftly dealt with.
The Save Rait Castle web site includes history, photos and tales of the ghost.
Also see the page about Rait Castle by Great Buildings Online
