Dunrobin Castle, Dovecot, Category B listed building dovecote at Dunrobin Castle in Highland, Scotland.
The Dunrobin Castle dovecote is a stone structure on the estate grounds, built to hold pigeons in numerous nesting chambers arranged throughout its interior. The building has a simple, functional design typical of working farm buildings from its period.
The dovecote was built when Dunrobin Castle served as the main residence of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland in the Northern Highlands. It represents a functional addition to the estate that remained in use as the family's power and wealth grew over generations.
The dovecote shows how Scottish nobles managed their estates through practical farming, keeping pigeons as both food sources and for their valuable droppings used to fertilize fields. Walking around it helps visitors understand the working life that supported grand castles like this one.
The building sits within the castle grounds and can be viewed during the estate's regular opening periods. Spring through autumn offers the best access when gardens and grounds are fully open to visitors exploring the property.
The dovecote remains actively used for its original purpose on the estate, positioned near formal gardens where modern activities like falconry displays now occur. This continued working function is rare for farm buildings of its age and shows how the property has adapted while keeping traditions alive.
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