"Two days after the battle the Earl of Cromarty, his son, Lord Macleod, several officers, and 153 private men, were landed at Inverness from the Hound sloop of war, which had conveyed them from Sutherland, where they had been taken prisoners by a party of Lord Sutherland's people on the preceding day, viz, the 15th of April, under the following circumstances. Having received instructions to rejoin the main body of the Highland army at Inverness, the earl was about proceeding to fulfil them, when a plan was formed by the Mackays and the Earl of Sutherland's people to cut him off. Uniting their forces, consisting of three independent companies, near Golspie , they resolved to attack the Earl of Cromarty, early in the morning of the 15th of April, in flank and in rear. In pursuance of this resolution, Captain Macallister, who commanded the Earl of Sutherland's militia, marched with his company towards the water of Golspie, and having in his march received intelligence that Cromarty's regiment had marched towards the ferry, but that the earl himself with the greater part of his officers was at Dunrobin Castle, he sent Ensign John Mackay, with a party of 26 men, to intercept him. The earl left the castle with 14 officers on horseback, and a small party of well-armed foot, to join his men, and would have fallen into an ambuscade which Ensign Mackay had laid for him, had not some of the Mackays begun to fire too soon. Lord Cromarty immediately retraced his steps and took refuge in the castle, from the top of the tower of which he displayed a white flag and rang a bell, as a signal that he was attacked. The earl's men began immediately to march back to his relief, upon which Mackay and his party retired to the adjacent high grounds. Meanwhile, the two independent companies, which were to attack Cromarty's men in flank, arrived at the hill of Culmaly, to the north west of Golspie, and observing the insurgents returning from the ferry, and drawn up in order of battle on a rising ground about a mile west from Golspie, they concealed themselves on the top of the hill: Captains Gray and Sutherland, the commanders of the two companies, then descended the hill to reconnoitre. They computed Cromarty's force to be between 400 and 500 men; and, having resolved to attack them, they returned to their men and gave orders to that effect. To deceive the insurgents as to the extent of their numbers, they marched down the hill in open column, keeping a distance of about twenty paces between each rank; and so well did the ruse succeed, that the insurgents, struck with a panic, fled towards the ferry, and were pursued by the two companies, who, attacking them in flank, killed a considerable number, and took 178 prisoners. The two companies thereupon marched to Dunrobin castle, which they invested. The earl held out the castle till the evening, when, despairing of relief, he requested the commanders of the companies to hold a conference with him in the castle on the subject of surrender. While engaged in conversation, Ensign Mackay, who had entered the castle along with two captains, went down stairs, and having informed the earl's men below that he had surrendered, induced them to deliver up their arms. Having secured their arms, he took the keys from the porter, and, opening the gates, admitted his party. He then went up stairs with them, and, entering the dinning-room, seized the earl, Lord Macleod, and the whole officers.

Whilst the Duke of Cumberland was deliberating upon the course he should adopt for finally suppressing the rebellion, his unfortunate kinsman, disheartened by his recent disaster, was entirely occupied with thoughts of his own personal safety. After leaving the field, Charles, escorted by a large body of horse, crossed the river Nairn at the ford of Galie, about four miles from the field of battle. Having halted a short time on the south side of the Nairn, during which he held a consultation with his friends, Charles dismissed the horse and most of his attendants, with instructions to assemble at Ruthven in Badenoch, where they were directed to wait for further orders. Taking along with him Sir Thomas Sheridan, O'Sullivan, Captain O'Neil, John Hay, and a few other persons, Charles set out for Gortuleg, the residence of Lord Lovat's steward, where he arrived about sunset. There, for the first and only time, the prince met Lord Lovat, who, on learning the cause of the Prince's unexpected visit, became, it is said, almost frantic, and, anticipating the fate which awaited him, called out to those around him to chop off his head. In a little time the aged chief regained his self-possession, and entered into conversation with Charles and his followers in relation to their future prospects. As it was not considered safe to pass the night so near the royal troops, Charles and his party, after partaking of some supper, left Gortuleg about ten o'clock for Invergarry , the seat of Macdonnell of Glengary. Before leaving Gortuleg, the prince took the precaution to change his dress.

The prince and his party arrived at the mansion of Invergarry about four o'clock in the morning, where Charles began to experience a foretaste of the hardships he was destined to endure. This ancient castle, ever since its first erection, had never been in such a cheerless condition as that in which Charles now found it. Unprovided with furniture or provisions, and inhabited by a solitary domestic, it seemed to warn the unfortunate fugitives that they must speedily look out for a more hospitable place of retreat. Overcome by fatigue, the whole party lay down upon the floor, in their clothes, and fell asleep. After reposing several hours, they rose, but had nothing to eat till Edward Burke, servant to Alexander Macleod, one of the party, observing a net in the water of Garry, pulled it out and caught two salmon, on which they dined.

With the exception of O'Sullivan, O'Neil, and Edward Burke, who, from his knowledge of the country, was selected as the prince's guide, all the party took leave of Charles at Invergarry. Before leaving the castle, Charles, in order the more effectually to disguise himself, put on Burke's coat; and at three o'clock in the afternoon, he set out for Loch Arkaig in Lochaber, accompanied by his three attendants, and took up his quarters for the night in the house of Donald Cameron of Glenpean. Charles slept the following night, that of Friday the 18th, at Mewbol, where he and his small party were well entertained. From Mewboll they set our next morning for Glenboisdale. At Loch Morar they waited several hours for a boat to carry them across; but, not finding one, they were obliged, from the road being impracticable for horses, to abandon them and to walk on foot to Glenboisdale, which they reached on Sunday the 20th, after great fatigue, having crossed two lofty ranges of mountains in their route."

"The Earldom of Sutherland was created in 1235, and a castle appears to have stood on this site since then."

"The Earls of Sutherland have had a castle here since the 13th century. In 1845 Charles Barry, who built the Houses of Parliament, re-modeled the castle but most of his interior was destroyed by fire in 1915. The castle was then re-designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. From 1965 to 1972 it was a boys' boarding school but is now owned by Elizabeth Janson, Countess of Sutherland. "

" The Sutherland family can trace their ancestry back to Freskin of Moravia, and one of his descendants, Hugh, migrated to Sutherland in the days of William the Lion, with the 1st Earl of Sutherland being created in 1235."

"The early castle was a fortified, square keep looking out from its cliff top position."

"The oldest part of the castle dates from about 1275 but it was from the strong additions made at the end of the fourteenth century by Robert the 6th Earl that the castle takes its name. He had married the daughter of the infamous Wolf of Bedenoch in 1389 and had to have a fitting and impressive home to offer her."

"Dunrobin Castle is a conglomeration of styles that have evolved over many centuries of expansion and restoration. Originally, the lands in the 12th century belonged to the Freskins of Duffus. They became Earls of Sutherland in the 13th century. It passed by marriage to the Huntlys in 1514 and it was brought into an English family (Leveson Gowers) in the late 18th century."

"The existing castle has grown up around a small tower house and has been occupied by the family ever since. The tower dates from 1520, but parts may go back to the time of William, 3rd Earl, in 1327. The round stair turret at one corner dates from John, the 13th earl, in 1594. Either John or his successor added a mansion with ranges within a small court Dunrobin was further expanded for the Countess Elizabeth in 1785 and in 1835 Sir Charles Barry was commissioned to build substantial facades onto the existing building, extending the complex to the north and east."

"The first enlargement was carried out in the 18th century, at which time is was converted into a courtyard-plan castle. The castle was enlarged and remodeled between 1845-51. Dunrobin was damaged by fire in 1915, and it was repaired after WWI. Everything seen by visitors as they approach down the avenue is basically Sir Barry's work from the 1830s, which has entirely hidden the original tower house behind the gray stone facade. Even the whitewashed walls of the 17th century mansion only come into view as you round the back of the castle and walk through the gardens."

"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."

"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 is mainly the work of the Scottish architect, Sir Robert Lorimer."

"The 5th Duke died in 1963, and with the convoluted way of British nobility succession, the Earldom and the house went to the current Countess of Sutherland, the Dukedom to somebody else."

"An exhibition includes the colours of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, the famous thin red line at Balaclava."

"The land has been associated with the Earls of Sutherland since 1235. There was a castle here during that time but no part of it exists now. The original part of the surviving castle is the 15^th keep (supposedly built in 1401). It still has the original yet. An L-shaped addition was built between 1672 and 1682 on each side of the keep. This lends the appearance of an E-plan structure. The fairy-tale look of the castle was created during the remodel in 1845 and 1851 by the architect, Sir Charles Barry. Finally the last remodel occurred between 1914 and 1921 by Sir Robert Lorimer."

"In its time the castle has been used as a Naval Hospital during the First World Wax, then later as a boys' boarding school."

"The house became a boy's boarding school for a period of seven years from the late 1960's before reverting back to being a family house."

"The ninth Earl inherited a mental weakness and was considered not capable of fulfilling his duties, so was placed in the care of his sister, Lady Elizabeth, until he died. There followed a wrangle over who should inherit -- his sister or Alexander, a half-bother. Lady Elizabeth won --but it wasn't a decision Alexander was prepared to accept. Local skirmishes took place all over Sutherland until Alexander was killed in one of them and his head borne back on a spear to be displayed on a turret at Dunrobin."

"Lady Elizabeth had married a Gordon and insisted on keeping her married name so for the next few generations the Sutherland Earls were Gordons. Some of the would-be competitors for the Earldom who had resented a woman succeeding weren't content to let matters rest, however. When her grandson succeeded Lady Elizabeth, the 'Good Earl John', as he was called, was in exile for taking part in Huntly's Rebellion, but returned to his home in 1567. With his wife and young son he accepted an invitation to dine at Helmsdale Castle. Young Alexander went out hunting and returned to Helmsdale to find his mother dead and his father dying. With his last breath Earl John warned his son not to drink the wine that Lady Isobel Sinclair was offering. At one fell swoop she had planned to be rid of all who stood between the earldom and her son -- but her son, who had also been out hunting, returned and helped himself to a glass of the poisoned wine."

"The Sutherlands were always strong supporters of the Government in the Uprisings. Dunrobin was captured by Bonnie Prince Charlie's supporters in 1746 but the Earl escaped to turn the tables on them and recapture the castle. To Dunrobin belongs the distinction of being the last castle to be taken in war."

"Again the Earldom passed to a female, perhaps the best known Sutherland of all, for the Countess Elizabeth was only a year old when she inherited. Again there was the inevitable dispute, but the House of Lords decided in her favour. Most of her early life was spent out of Scotland, her husband being appointed as Ambassador to France. One of the tales told of her recounts her exploits smuggling in clothes to Marie Antoinette in prison."

"She and her husband, who was ultimately created 'Duke of Sutherland', were the instigators, with the best of intentions as is now acknowledged, of what became known as the infamous Sutherland Clearances."

"The ghost who haunts Dunrobin was a daughter of the fourteenth Earl. In the 1600's Margaret fell in love with someone considered not at all suitable, and strongly resisted her father's attempts to marry her off to the favoured suitor. Foiled in an attempt to elope, Margaret was locked up in the attic. Her maid was allowed to tend her however, and she offered to act as a go-between. On a set night she arranged for Margaret's lover to be at the foot of the wall with horses at the ready, while she smuggled in a rope for the get-away. But the Earl had always suspected that his daughter might try something like this and had set his own servant to spy."

"Legend has it that the upper floors of the castle are haunted by the ghost of a daughter of the 14th Earl. She decided to elope with her lover, but her father considered the man unsuitable, and had her imprisoned in one of the attic rooms to prevent her from marrying the boy. She tried to escape out the window, but her father surprised her and she fell to her death. One of the rooms she haunts has since been abandoned."

"Just as Margaret was climbing out the window her father burst into the room. Terrified, Margaret lost her grip and plunged to her death. Her lover put a curse on the Earl and Margaret still haunts the upper corridors of the castle, sobbing and wailing for her lost love and her life' brought to such an untimely end."

"This is the 14th Earl of Sutherland's daughter Margaret's story: I loved Jamie Gunn. I didn't care that he was a groom in our stables. When you love someone it doesn't matter. But my father cared, he was so angry that he had Jamie banished from the estate and locked me in the upper chamber of the tower. I knew Jamie would find a way for us to be together. It wasn't long before he smuggled a length of rope to my room so I could escape. We were betrayed to my father's steward who told him of our plans. As I was climbing down the rope they arrived. I could see all hope was lost; Jamie and I would never be together. I let go of the rope and fell to my death. It was better than being unhappy for the rest of my life. You may hear me weeping if you visit the room at the top of the old tower."