And the spectacular photos don't do it justice! It is, without any exaggeration, a Scottish icon. The first known inhabitants on the island were a Christian order who dedicated a church to the 7th-century Saint Donnan of Eigg, but it wasn’t until the 13th-century that the island changed from a site of religious worship to a fortified castle. The item you've selected was not added to your cart. Add to cart. Photographing Eilean Donan Castle Scotland. It is located in the western Highlands of Scotland and is part of the Kintail National Scenic Area, one of forty in Scotland . Follow my adventures on Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube or contact me here. The forests of Arran offer some of the best mountain biking routes of any of the west-coast islands and any cycle ride is almost guaranteed to include sightings of Arran’s famed red squirrels. The Castle is a very popular destination for tourist and features a coffee shop which offers a delicious selection of snacks and hot food, and of course good Scottish baking, and a gift shop where you can buy books, souvenirs, cards, jewelry and all kinds of Eilean Donan … Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that the castle is now one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish highlands. Scotland’s most beautiful castle. Eilean Donan Castle is 9 miles (14 kilometers) east of Lochalsh. The iconic Eilean Donan Castle is a must see when in the area even if it's to only stop in the car park and walk around the foreshore admiring the building and its setting. At this time the castle was inhabited by several Jacobite commanders accompanied by a garrison of sympathetic Spanish soldiers, and it was rumoured that an enormous stockpile of gunpowder was secreted away inside the castle walls. There’s a whole heap of historical artefacts to view during your visit showcased in rooms that look like they’ve come straight of an Outlander novel, and I can pretty much guarantee you’ll end your day having learned more about the history of Scotland than you were expecting. ... Scotland’s most beautiful castle . Donnan was a Celtic saint martyred in about 617, and it’s said that his followers once built a church upon the island – although we’ve little evidence of that. There are several churches dedicated to Donan in the area and it is likely that he formed a small cell or … Vintage Antique Metal Match Box Matches Eilean Donan Castle Scotland . Around this time Scotland was under frequent attacks from Norse expeditions that were moving in from the Western Isles, so the Scots ruler Alexander II decreed that a castle was necessary at the point where the three great lochs meet in order to defend his realm. Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland Eilean Donan (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Donnain) is a small tidal island where three sea lochs meet, Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh, in the western Highlands of Scotland. Guide to the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland, The Complete Guide to Visiting Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian, The Complete Guide to Visiting Dunnottar Castle in Grampian, The Complete Guide to Visiting Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian, The Complete Guide to Visiting Hopetoun House in the Lothians, The Complete Guide to The Arran Coastal Way, The Complete Guide to Visiting Holy Isle, Arran, The Complete Guide to Visiting Brodick Castle on Arran. Eilean Donan Castle Dornie by Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DX. The view across the meeting point of the three lochs is beautiful. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The lochs of Duich, Long and Alsh provide the stunning foreground to a panorama where the eastern-most tip of the Isle of Skye fills the horizon while the hills of the Kintail National Scenic Area surround the castle in all directions. Vintage Antique Metal Match Box Matches Eilean Donan Castle Scotland . It therefore comes as a surprise to discover that although the island has been fortified since at least the Iron Age, the castle you see today was only rebuilt from earlier ruins in the years between 1913 and 1932. Towers, Fortifications, And Medieval Defence. Located on a small tidal island at the point where three sea lochs meet, the castle offers one of the loveliest views in Scotland, instantly recognisable from a thousand shortbread tins and travel websites. 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