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Eilean Donan CastleWestern Highlands of Scotland |
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One of over 15,000 pictures in the Britain's Historic Sites Collection
The anticipated first glimpse of Eilean Donan Castle is rewarding, appreciable of its commanding position, first built in 1220 by King Alexander 11 of Scotland on a site probably occupied by a former Viking Fort. For most of its life it was owned by the MacKenzie Clan, the Earls of Seaforth, but in 1719 during the Jacobite struggles against the English crown, Eilean Donan suffered badly from bombardment by the English warship 'Worcester' because the castle was under Jacobite ownership who were using it as an armaments base, garrisoned by Spaniards sympathetic to the Scottish cause. The English troops loyal to King George I and led by General Wightman went on to wreak havoc amongst the Highlanders and Stuart supporters. For 200 years Eilean Donan Castle languished as a sad ruin but was completely rebuilt by the MacRae family in 1932 at a cost of around £230,000. When viewed today from across Loch Long at Dornie Pier, particularly during the evening, I would say it was money well spent! Location: Dornie, beside Fort William to Kyle of Lochalsh road A87, Western Highlands of Scotland. Rated for a visit. 9/10
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Eilean Donan Castle
The quintessential of 'Coastal Castles' that are scattered across northern Scotland, all situated in scenery of exceptional beauty and grandeur.
Eilean Donan sits comfortably next to the A87, The Road to the Isles (the other Road to the Isles is the A830), and is finally reached following a long succession of sweeps and curves beside Loch Duich.