Ballone Castle
On the cliffs just north of Rockfield is Ballone
castle. It was built in the 16th century by the Dunbars of Tarbet.
It lay in ruins for some 300 years but is now restored. (Privately
owned). It is not open to the public.
This castle, built the Z-plan in the late 16th century, Dunbars
who held the property from 1507 to the beginning of the 17th century.
In 1623 it acquired by the MacKenzies who occupied it until at
least 1693. It was abandoned by the MacKenzies who moved on to
Tarbat House at Milton. By the mid 18th century the caste was
in ruins. At the north side there are the ruins of various outbuildings,
including a bake-house.
This castle is first referred to in the early
1600's as "the fortalicium" of Easter Tarbat. Ballone
was an alternative name for this property. In 1703 George MacKenzie,
(Earl of Cromartie) renamed it "Castlehaven". It was
known by this name throughout the 18th century but by the late
19th century the locally accepted name was Ballone Castle.