Balnagowan Castle (3)
Nigel Tranter wrote: <i>'Although there is much older work in the great pile of buildings, with parts said to date back to the 15th century, it is very difficult to delineate, so altered and added to has been the structure.  Most of the building dates from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but the majority even of this rises from ancient vaulting.  However a certain aspect of the early house is to be distinguished on the west front.'</i>

It is the west front that is facing us here.  Tranter continues:

<i>This is a tall gabled block of four storeys and a garret, with two slender towers at the north-west and south-west angles.  The former of these is certainly of late construction, the latter may be also, beneath the heavy plastering, as may be the angle turret to the south-east.  The crenellations crowning the wall-head are also modern, but the bulk of this wing is ancient.  The walls, rising from massive boulders as a foundation, are very thick, and the basement is vaulted.  The windows have been enlarged and the unsightly arcading of the ground floor detracts from the aspect.  There are no shot-holes visible on the outside, owing to the plastering.</i>

In fact, two shot-holes are visible in this photo, under the 'unsightly arcading'.
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