Ian Begg

Ian McKerron Begg (23 June 192526 November 2017) was a Scottish architect, known for his work with Scottish castles and their restoration. He attended the Edinburgh College of Art and he served in World War II; he trained with the United States Navy to become a pilot in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

Begg led the restoration of many castles including Muckrach Castle. He also built his own tower house castle which was completed in 1992. He named the tower house "Ravens' Craig" and it is four storeys tall. He has served as an adviser for the National Trust for Scotland and vice president of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland.

Early life Begg was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland on 23 June 1925. He went to Kirkcaldy High School and then Edinburgh College of Art. He served in the Second World War, having spent one year at Glasgow University Naval Division, before training with the United States Navy to become a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm. When he was 22, he completed a trek around Scotland. In 1951, Begg apprenticed with Harry Hubbard in Kirkcaldy before joining Neil and Hurd Architects firm in Edinburgh.

Begg was interim director of the Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee when it was formed in 1971, interim director of the Edinburgh Old Town Committee for Conservation and Renewal in 1984–1985, and an Adviser on Architecture for the Edinburgh Old Town Charitable Trust. He also taught architectural design, was an adviser for the National Trust for Scotland, and was vice president of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland.

Castles and other buildings

Begg led the restoration of Muckrach Castle in 1978–1985. He said, "it was one of the high points in my life, as an architect". Lauriston Castle, Aboyne Castle, and Dairsie Castle. He also designed and built other buildings, such as the St Mungo Museum of Comparative Religion at Glasgow Cathedral.

Begg designed the Scandic Crown Hotel, Edinburgh in 1988–1989. He later designed a faux-Scottish castle luxury hotel in China, complete with a winery and a great hall to sit 100 people.

Ravens' Craig Ravens' Craig tower house castle in Plockton, Lochalsh was designed by Begg and built from the ground up and completed in 1992. It took 6 years to build and its layout is based on his experience working with other castles, but with some modern features like underfloor heating and a lift shaft to aid in bringing logs to the main hall. The main hall is by , with the size dictated by a triangular pattern on the ceiling. The ground floor, where the dining room is located, is vaulted. The tower house was eventually listed for sale at over £725,000. and it was said to be one of his finest works. When asked why he decided to sell his home he told The Sunday Post,

Begg retired from architectural work in December 2009. After retirement, he continued to write about historical subjects. In 2015, he wrote about Scottish neolithic carved stone balls. Begg died on 26 November 2017 and is buried in Balmacara Cemetery.