Hermitage in the wood of Cawdor

Hermitage in the wood of Cawdor

ID: QZP40_3443_P005 DESCRIPTION: Cawdor Castle, about 13 miles east of Inverness, has extensive grounds, including the Big Wood. The wood has an area of almost 160 hectares and is one of the best examples of western oak woodland in the UK. As well as oak trees the wood also has birch, beech, holly, rowan and Scots pine, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife. A small hermitage or hideaway was also common in large castle grounds. Cawdor Castle was built under a Royal license granted to the then Thane of Cawdor in 1454. Major alterations were made to the castle from 1660-1670 by Sir Hugh Campbell of Cawdor not long before the family relocated to Wales after admitting their Jacobite sympathies. The family eventually returned to Cawdor castle and now run it as a visitor attraction. This illustration is one of a set bound with an anonymous manuscript entitled 'The Ancient and Honourable Family of Calder', from the Fraser-Mackintosh Collection at Inverness Library PLACENAME: Cawdor Estate OLD COUNTY/PARISH: NAIRN PERIOD: 1800s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Fraser Mackintosh Collection (illustrations) Asset ID: 31758 KEYWORDS: