Thus far I have been focusing on the homes themselves but it would be advantageous to consider where these homes sit int e landscape and what this may suggest about the social status and preferred sites of the period.

1. Fairburn Tower -  This tower is located within a highly agricultural area. It lies in a fertile area on a vast hill and the view from the top of the tower would likely have offered views across the glen to Brahan Estate and towards the Strathpeffer/Ben Wyvis area. 

2. Fairburn  1 - This home with 2 outlying buildings lies on what is presently a rather rocky and less agriculturally salubrious plot. directly behind the house is a small river and a boggy area. To the front the land sweeps down steeply to a flat plain which turns into riverbank.

3. Fairburn 2 - The landscape of this plot is rather flat with direct access to the fairly wide River Orrin. A forestry/estate road runs alongside the property which lies equal distance from road and river. There are presently sheep pastured alongside the home and it is unknown how fertile the land may have been during habitation. There are signs of cement re-pointing suggesting either later habitation or re-use as a byre in the more recent past.

4. Redcastle - The 'Red Castle' is called so due to the use of red sandstone to build it. It lies on a very vast and fertile part of the Black Isle quite close to the Beauly Firth. The castle is approached by a sweeping drive and there is still much agricultural work done on the estate in the vicinity.

5. Redcastle homestead - This home is located at the 'crossroads' of three very large field systems. It is approached by a small path system and by an abandoned railway. Unlike the Fairburn properties it is located in very obviously fertile land though much further from the Firth than the Red Castle.

I believe more work needs to be done to investigate specific landscape features and how they may relate to the idea of social status.