Eilean Donan Castle – Dornie, Scotland

Eilean Donan Castle – Dornie, Scotland, faces the Isle of Skye in the western Scottish Highlands. The renowned castle is located right where Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh meet. This small castle mixes history and astonishing landscapes, making it one of the most iconic Scottish destinations. As soon as you step into the castle’s grounds, amid the green scenery, the dark loch water, and the chilly weather, you feel as if you went back in time.

History

Supposedly, the castle and the island were named after the Irish Saint Bishop Donan after the 6th century. Besides, it is said that the Bishop created a small community on the island during the 7th century. For this reason, you can find several churches in the area, all dedicated to Donan.

Even though the island was first populated in the 6th century, Eilean Donan Castle was built in the 13th century. Its purpose was to protect the lands of Kintail, when the Vikings raided and controled the majority of North Scotland.

The castle then became a fortress of the MacKenzie and MacRae clans until the 16th century, while they feuded with other clans. It also survived the 17th and 18th centuries, when the Jacobites rebelled against the English to take the crown for King James VII.

In 1719, they imprisoned several Spanish soldiers in the castle. As a result, three government warships bombed Eilean Donan Castle. Even though the government soldiers accepted the rebels surrender, they still exploded what was left of the castle. They used specifically 343 barrels of gunpowder. This is what finally caused the castle’s destruction.

Therefore, Eilean Donan laid in ruins for almost 200 years. Then, Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap and his family bought the island in 1911. Eventually, they reconstructed the castle, and it opened again in 1932.

Activity/Place Highlights

Eilean Donan Castle is easily reached and it has a subtle charm. The MacRae-Gilstrap family, during that last reconstruction, also built a graceful bridge to reach the castle. From this bridge, you can see the three lochs, the nearby village of Dornie and the mountains of Skye.

Some people say the castle’s outline resembles a broken tooth, but this doesn’t take away its subdued beauty. Certainly, the building still looks good from almost any angle due to the stunning landscape that surrounds it. Breathe in and enjoy the fresh air filled with the scent of heathers and wildflowers.

The design of Eilean Donan Castle

The bridge is protected by the bastion’s battlements, and by one of the castle’s walls, which extends outwards to the bridge. Besides, an entryway leads into the yard, where there’s a seawall that looks out to the lochs. Steps guide to the entry of the castle and into the billeting room.

Entering the Banqueting Hall

On the top floor, you can find the most stunning room of the castle: the banqueting hall. This room is supported by long beams made out of Douglas fir wood from British Columbia. In addition, the room has a large chimney decorated with coats of arms. Finally, you can see a table that apparently comes from one of Admiral Nelson’s ships.

At high tide, the castle’s position gives it a vibe of defiance. It’s easy to imagine adversary ships cruising down Loch Alsh or attacking troops wanting to fight their way across the castle.

On the other hand, at low tide, the island is usually bordered with seaweed and tide pools. The building that was once an intimidating place, is now a castle of dreams, surrounded by green mountains and reflected in the loch water.

How to get there

Eilean Donan Castle is located in a fairly remote area. The bridge is actually 16 km away from the Isle of Skye. You can get to the island by car in a 7-hour long drive from Glasgow. However, you’ll get to enjoy some of the most iconic Scottish landscapes along the way, including Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, Loch Lochy and Glen Shiel. A car trip from Edinburgh will also take you 7 hours, but coming from Inverness it’s only a 3 hour-long trip.