Portmahomack, Tain, Ross-Shire

Little Tarrel Castle is a characterful “B” listed small fortalice originally built in the 16th century, which has been sympathetically restored over the years to offer a range of spacious and comfortable accommodation arranged in an L-shape formation over three floors. According to records, the castle was built in 1559 by Alexander Ross the legitimated son of Walter Ross of Balnagown, chief of Clan Ross and eighth Laird of Balnagown. In the 1980’s, a full restoration took place, and it has been in the same ownership since, some 40 years.

It retains a wealth of its traditional features, including fine stonework and fireplaces, along with timber beams, thick wooden latched doors and shutters, as well as the original shot hole, gun loops and arrow slits.

The striking front door opens to the reception hall with stone flooring, stairway and store cupboard, which flows directly through to the rear terrace. On the ground floor is a barrel vaulted, atmospheric, stone dining room with a door opening to the southerly aspect. The beamed kitchen contains an array of elegant fitted cabinetry and appliances, with ample space for informal dining. The accommodation flows into the dual-aspect sitting room, with its distinctive stone-built arched feature fireplace.

The spacious first floor houses a magnificent 17 ft. multi-aspect vaulted living room with a fireplace, ideal for entertaining. There is a contemporary shower room and two well-proportioned bedrooms to this floor, including the principal suite with its modern en suite shower room. On the second floor is a third bedroom with elevated aspects, a family bathroom and a useful store room.

The property sits in a quiet hamlet in an elevated position, about 8 miles east of Tain. It benefits from a private rear garden behind an enclosed stone wall. There is a paved raised rear terrace wrapping around the home, a generous amount of level lawn interspersed and surrounded by various mature trees. The garden benefits from far-reaching views opening onto unspoilt countryside. There is also a gated parking area to the side.

Idyllic Tarrel is located just 1.5 miles from the popular village of Portmahomack, a scenic setting on the Tarbat peninsula with a sandy beach and harbour. There are several amenities here including a shop, primary school, Post Office and a golf course. Additional facilities including a health centre, secondary schooling, eateries and supermarkets are available at the town of Tain, with Fearn train station providing links to Inverness, the capital of of the Highlands in about an hour. The A9 offers convenient road links further afield. Inverness Airport offers a variety of domestic and European flights.