The Inverness Castle Experience has revealed its own bespoke tartan, a cloth designed and woven in the Highlands and created to honour the stories, skills and spirit that sit at the heart of the region.
The tartan has been produced by Prickly Thistle, the sustainable Highland fashion house based less than twenty miles from the castle, and will become a defining feature of the project as it prepares to welcome visitors for the first time.
The design will appear in retail items in the castle shop and will form part of the staff uniform, making the tartan not only a piece of heritage but a living thread running through the wider experience.
The collaboration is rooted in the belief that craft and community belong at the centre of Inverness Castle’s new chapter, which is being delivered through the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal.
The Deal is supported by up to three hundred and fifteen million pounds of investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the University of the Highlands and Islands, with the aim of driving sustainable economic growth across the region.
Clare Campbell, founder of Prickly Thistle, has built her reputation on reimagining tartan while protecting the traditional Highland techniques that give the cloth its soul.
Her mill uses natural fibres and traditional looms to create fabric shaped by the landscapes, stories and values of the Highlands.
That ethos guided the creation of the castle’s new tartan, which she describes as a fabric woven with meaning rather than simply a pattern chosen for design.
A short film featuring Campbell documents the making of the design and the connection between the castle project and her mill, capturing how modern tartan can carry the character of the Highlands into the present.
Councillor Ian Brown, Leader of Inverness and Co Chair of The Inverness Castle Delivery Group, said the partnership feels like a perfect fit for a project rooted in place and identity.
He said the work of Prickly Thistle reflects the values behind the redevelopment of one of Inverness’s most iconic landmarks.
“Working with Clare and Prickly Thistle has been a natural partnership,” he said.
“Clare’s creativity and commitment to sustainability reflect the same values at the heart of The Inverness Castle Experience.”
He said the new tartan expresses the depth of Highland character.
“The new tartan is a meaningful expression of Highland identity, crafted here in the Highlands for a project that celebrates this special place and its people.”
Michael Golding, Chair of the High Life Highland Charity Board, said the tartan showcases the strength of local talent and the importance of creative collaboration.
“We are delighted to see the creativity of the Highlands reflected in the new tartan,” he said.
“Designed and produced by Prickly Thistle, it symbolises the strength of local talent and the value of working together to celebrate our heritage in new ways.”
Campbell said creating the tartan has been an honour.
“This tartan is woven with the threads of Highland stories, landscapes and values that shape who we are,” she said.
“It has been a privilege to create something that celebrates Inverness Castle’s new chapter while honouring centuries of Highland craftsmanship.”
She said each piece of cloth carries a sense of place that will stay with visitors.
“Every piece made from this cloth carries the spirit of home.”
The castle team say the partnership is central to their commitment to local creativity, sustainable practice and Highland pride as the project moves towards opening.
The redevelopment has been supported by a wide partnership of funders including the Scottish and UK governments, The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
