Clan Donald Society | Macdonald Tower, Dingwall

Macdonald Tower, Dingwall

July 2026

On the 2nd July a colour party attended the delayed re-opening of the Tower. This link will take you to a Highland Council video of the event with supporting history.

This link will download [if we can make it work properly!] the Ross-shire Journal report of the opening, including interesting photographs. CDSoS Council member Alaine Macdonald attended the event and describes the situation regarding volunteering to be a guide. "They plan to have two hour visitor sessions at the Tower. It is still a bit wooly but volunteers don't necessarily have to climb the 127 steps more than once as they will be stationed either at the bottom or the top, or on one of the two floors. I have put my name down as a volunteer."

Renovations are now being carried out on the Tower in the hope that it can be re-opened to the public in March 2026.

21st March 2026 - explanation of delay to the re-opening.

"The planned reopening of an iconic monument overlooking Dingwall has been postponed — because of the forthcoming Scottish election.

Dingwall Community Council said the re-opening of the Macdonald Memorial planned for Saturday, March 28 has been put on ice.This is because the the date falling within the so-called election 'purdah' period when restrictions on some public gatherings apply.

The monument commemorates ‘Fighting Mac’, Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald.

Dingwall Community Council said: “We still hope to have an opening ceremony in Dingwall Community Council said: “We still hope to have an opening ceremony in early summer, and hope that many of you will wish to attend. We will give further details in due course.

“We are also still looking for volunteers to act as guides for the guided tours once the memorial is open to the public.

“It would be advisable if you are fit enough to climb the 127 steps three or four times during a 2-hour session, but people who are willing to volunteer for ground floor only duty would also be welcome.”

Please respond to dingwallcommunitycouncil@gmail.com or text 07876 103538 with your name and contact details.

The following links to the local press have been made available in "News headlines" and are repeated here.

24^th October Restoration work on Macdonald Tower, Dingwall

Restoration work is soon to commence on the Tower. Click here for Ross-shire Journal article.

28^th October More information re Macdonald Tower, Dingwall

Link to Highland Council web page.

6^th December Latest information re. Macdonald Tower in Dingwall

This link will take you to the latest information re the restoration of the tower. We are attempting to receive regular updates from the contractor.

Below is the response we received on 9th December from Jim Holden, Dingwall Community Development Company.

Graham Mackenzie (Ross and Cromarty District Councillor) suggested that I could assist you with photos of the renovation works on the Memorial. The works are being undertaken by Compass contractors for the Council in advance of Dingwall Community Development Company (DCDC) signing a lease to enable public access to the Memorial. We hope to start tours in March 2026, assuming the contract is complete.

Compass controls access to the site and while I understand their Site Manager is keeping a photographic record of the works, this is for contract management purposes and I guess will only be available to the Highland Council Project Manager. DCDC hasn’t seen any photos and we have not been granted access to the site (nor has the Ross-shire Journal!).

Works being undertaken are not dramatic- replacing the decking on the viewing platform, stonework repairs and some re- pointing, steelwork conservation internally and some cleaning/ painting, etc. A new ‘grill’ will be placed above the iron gates to prevent unauthorised access and some window repairs will be undertaken. The Council’s Lighting Dept has also replaced the stair lighting.

None of these works are particularly photogenic, but DCDC would welcome any member of Clan Donald to join a tour next year - details will be publicised next year, so that they can see the Memorial and the stunning views from the top.

DCDC is partnering with Dingwall Community Council to recruit volunteer guides; we would welcome interest from Clan members. As you might expect, DCDC does not have sufficient funds to provide the Information panels we have planned for the viewing platform, nor the display boards setting out the story of Sir Hector and the Memorial, so any donations for those purposes would be most welcome. DCDC’s bank is TSB, a/c 71763468, Sort Code 87-39-06.