| Castle Stuart | |
| Location: | Petty, Inverness, Scotland |
| Coordinates: | 57.528°N -4.106°W |
| Map Type: | Scotland Highland |
| Type: | Tower house |
| Built: | between 1619 and 1625 |
| Builder: | James Stuart, 3rd Earl of Moray |
| Used: | 17th century; 20th and 21st centuries |
| Condition: | Restored |
| Ownership: | Private |
Castle Stuart is a restored tower house on the banks of the Moray Firth, about 6.5miles northeast of Inverness.[1]
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.[2] 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.[2]
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.[2] The castle lay derelict for 300 years before being restored; it is currently used as a luxury hotel.[2]
The seaside links golf course at Castle Stuart along Moray Firth opened in 2009, co-designed by two Americans: managing partner Mark Parsinen and golf course architect Gil Hanse.[3] [4] It was voted as Best New Course for 2009 by Golf magazine.[5]
The course hosted the Scottish Open in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016.
Source:[6]