Tulloch Castle, home of the Chiefs of the Clan Davidson, is located on the outskirts of Dingwall, in the county of Ross and Cromarty, or Ross-shire. There is a great deal of fascinating history surrounding Dingwall, a little town which has played an important role in the history and leadership of the Highlands. Dingwall was granted 'burghal rights' by King Alexander II of Scotland in 1226. Prior to that date it was called by many by it's Gaelic name, "Inverferan". This name was in use for five hundred years. On the earliest map of Scotland that has been found, dated 1246, the name appears as "Dinkeual". Dingwall has been a Royal Burgh now for seven hundred years.Tulloch Castle was probably built by the Norsemen, but all that remains of the original are the south-west corner and its tower. It was first called Tulloch in 1507 from the Gaelic word "Tuich" which means "hillock".No other part of the Highlands has a more romantic history in respect of clan feuds and forays as the land surrounding Tulloch Castle and the town of Dingwall. Throughout the period, and right up until today, four chief families have been especially active in town and country life. They are the Baynes, (later intermarrying with the Davidsons), the Dingwalls, the MacKenzies and the Munros, and the first of these is the important one as regards Tulloch Castle.Bayne (or Bain, Bane, MacBain or MacBean) - the name comes from the Gaelic words "ban" meaning 'light coloured" i.e. fair-complexioned for fair-headed. The Baynes are first recorded as being in Dingwall in the late 15th century. The origins go back to Donald Bane of Malcolm Canmore's reign, and a James Bayne, Bishop of St. Andrews, crowned King David II at Scone.The first Bayne of Tulloch was Duncan who received a charter from King James V in 1541 giving him the lands of Tuich or Oulch (later Tulloch). In 1533 he acquired from the Clan Munro the lands of Davochcarte (now Docharty) which adjoined Tulloch Hill lands. A road was built between the two castles but it is now gone and only Tulloch remains today. Another report, giving the Baynes an earlier claim, states that the Baynes lived in Tulloch Castle for two hundred and fifty years, from 1513 to 1752. They made many matrimonial alliances with leading northern Highland families, thus becoming very prominent in the public and social life of the area and in Dingwall's municipal affairs. In 1716, John Bayne became the first Presbyterian minister in Dingwall. He preached in Gaelic.Kenneth, the eighth Bayne of Tulloch, sold the estate to his cousin, Henry Davidson on the 13th January, 1762. Henry was the son of William Davidson and Jean Bayne and the Davidson of Tulloch was the Chief of the Clan Dhai from that time on.The Davidsons have been prominent in the social life of the north for over two hundred years. The best known of the family during these more recent times came from Dingwall and was a favourite of Queen Victoria. He was a Highlander of handsome proportions and picturesque to a degree, with a magnificent head and white hair flowing in long curls over his shoulders. His name was Duncan Davidson and, like him, most of the Davidsons are tall. Down through centuries they have also been reputed to be a fighting family.