Old Photograph Dornoch Castle, Scotland. Dornoch Castle is situated opposite Dornoch Cathedral in the village of Dornoch, in Sutherland a little over 40 miles north of Inverness. Dornoch Castle was built around 1500 as the home of the bishops of Caithness. Bishop Robert Stewart gifted the castle to John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland in 1557. In 1570 the castle was set alight in a feud between the Clan McKay and the Clan Murray. The rebuilding which followed included the addition of the upper part of the tower. The castle decayed during the 18th century, but was restored in 1813–1814 to serve as a school and jail. In 1859 it became a court house, and was made the headquarters of the Sheriff of Sutherland. Further alterations were made around 1880, including the heightening of the south-west block, and the addition of a three-storey east tower. Following the restoration the castle became a hunting lodge for visiting sportsmen. In it is now a hotel.
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