Castle Dounie was originally a late 13th century fortress, founded by the Frasers of Lovat. In 1303 during the Wars of Independence, the castle was besieged by English troops and in 1400 a stone stronghold was built. Captured and damaged by Oliver Cromwell in 1650, after the battle at Culloden in 1746 it was burnt and razed to the ground by the army of the Duke of Cumberland. In the late 19th century, Simon Fraser 15th Lord Lovat founded Beaufort Castle, a Scottish baronial mansion on the site of the old castle. 14 miles north at Achterneed is Castle Leod and 14 miles south is Urquhart Castle.