Eileen Donan Castle

Description

Open Edition Reproduction

Eileen Donan is one of the most picturesque of the Scottish Castles and is sited on an islet at the confluence of Lochs Duich, Long, and Aish in the western highlands.

Placed between the realms of the MacDonalds and the MacKenzies it has been the centre of ongoing strife over the centuries from its earliest curtain wall construction in the 13th century under Alexander II. A keep was added in the 14th century. The MacKenzies, as the Earls of Kintail, were prominent until the rebellion of the “Old Pretender”.

To support James, Spanish soldiers were landed at the castle, but were then bombarded by HMS Worcester and other warships followed by a landing and the use of gunpowder explosives to “slight” the castle, which lay in ruins until extensive restoration in the early 20th century.