Dunstaffnage Castle - Wee Guides to Scotland castles and mansions

Wee Guides to Scotland
Dunstaffnage Castle

Goblinshead

130 Inveresk Rd
Musselburgh
EH21 7AY
SCOTLAND

On a promontory in the Firth of Lorn, Dunstaffnage Castle consists of a massive and tall 13th-century curtain wall, with round towers, and a 16th-century gatehouse, which was later much altered and is still roofed. Ruinous ranges of buildings contained a hall and kitchen. A stronghold here was held by the kings of Dalriada in the 7th century, and was one of the places that the Stone of Destiny was kept. The present castle was built by the MacDougalls. The castle was besieged and captured by Robert the Bruce in 1309, and Bruce made the castle a royal property, with the Campbells as keepers. James IV visited twice. In 1715 and 1746 government troops occupied the castle during the Jacobite Risings, and Flora MacDonald was briefly imprisoned here after helping Bonnie Prince Charlie. The castle was put into the care of the State in 1958, and there is a fine ruined chapel nearby. The castle is said to be haunted by a ghost in a green dress, the 'Ell-maid of Dunstaffnage' and her appearance heralds events, both bad and good, in the lives of the Campbells. She is said to be a Glaistig, a fairy woman.

Directions:	Off A85, 3.5 miles NE of Oban, Argyll.
Ownership:	HS	01631 562465	Ord. Survey Map Ref:	NM 882344 49
Open:	daily all year except closed Thursday PM and Friday October to March.
Key:	P S 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