Darnaway Castle

[2] Taranaich conserves an early Brittonic form, Taranumagos, derived from the elements taranu meaning "thunder" and magos, "a plain" (Welsh taran-maes).

"[3][4] The forest of Darnaway was an important source of timber, and in March 1497 King James IV sent a priest David Arnot to supervise carpenters taking "great trees" for the royal artillery.

[6] The Great Hall was re-roofed with "spune thak", wooden shingles hewn by a carpenter, at the command of James IV, and on 20 November 1501 the maidens of Forres came to Darnaway to sing for him.

[7] James IV kept his mistress Janet Kennedy at Darnaway with their children and her companion Katrine Douglas.

[15] Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll, the second husband of Agnes Keith, Countess of Moray, died at Darnaway on 10 September 1584.

However, Freuchie joined with the Tutor's men and the Earl of Moray, and came to Darnaway, and there shot pistols at Huntly's officers and cannon from the castle, and killed John Gordon, brother of the Laird of Cluny.

Darnaway Castle was equipped with spears, halberds, muskets, and an iron rod with ten shackles for prisoners.

[19] To the south of the castle, where the River Findhorn rushes through a gorge, Randolph's Leap commemorates the sort of long-jumping usually associated with Rob Roy MacGregor.

More can be learnt about the tale of Randolph’s Leap at the River Findhorn Heritage Centre at nearby Logie Steading.