Duart Castle, Mull - Wee Guides to Scotland castles and mansions

Wee Guides to Scotland
Duart Castle, Mull

Goblinshead

130 Inveresk Rd
Musselburgh
EH21 7AY
SCOTLAND

An extremely impressive and daunting fortress, Duart Castle consists of a large 13th-century curtain wall, enclosing a courtyard on a rocky knoll. In 1390 Lachlan Lubanach, 5th Chief, built the keep on the outside of the curtain wall, enclosing the existing well. There are later ranges of buildings within the walls. The MacLeans of Duart claim descent from Gillean of the Battle Axe. Lachlan Lubanach married Lady Elizabeth, daughter of the Lord of the Isles, granddaughter of Robert II King of Scots, and was granted the first known charter for Duart dated 1390 as her dowry. While fighting with the MacDonalds, the 6th chief Red Hector was killed at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, slaying and being slain by Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum. Lachlan Cattanach, 11th Chief, became so unhappy with his Campbell wife that he had the poor woman chained to a rock in the Firth of Lorn to be drowned at high tide. However, she was rescued and taken to her father, the Campbell Earl of Argyll. As a result, MacLean was murdered in his bed at Edinburgh by Sir John Campbell of Cawdor. In 1674 the castle was acquired by the Campbell Earl of Argyll. The MacLeans remained staunch Jacobites throughout Risings. Although garrisoned, the castle was not used as a residence, and was abandoned after the Rising of 1745 to become derelict and roofless. It was acquired in 1911 by Fitzroy MacLean, who restored the castle. It houses a display of clan memorabilia. Tea room and shop located in converted byre directly below the castle.

Directions:	Off A849, 3 miles S of Craignure, Mull.
Ownership:	Pri/LA	01680 812309	Ord. Survey Map Ref:	NM 749354 49
Open:	May to mid-October daily 10.30-6.00pm
Key:	P S R WC £	Click Here for explanation of Key and other abreviations

Fax:+44 (0) 131 653 6566 Tel: +44 (0) 131 665 2894
email:goblinshead@sol.co.uk