Thursday 23 July 2015

Treasures of Britain; Eilean Donan Castle



People who know me and my love for Scotland also know that my favourite castle is Eilean Donan Castle. I really can't explain why, but from the very first time I visited in 1992 it captured my heart. That whole region did but the castle especially. I don't think it was a furnitured castle at the time but when we came back to it in 2005 with the kids it was.



Eilean Donan Castle is near Dornie and is one of the most photographed castles in Scotland. The islet located between Lochs Long, ALsh and Duich is named after a 6th-century Celtic hermit. The castle, built c1220 by Alexander II to give advance warning of Viking raids, became the stronghold of the Mackenzies in the 14th century. In 1719 these fervent supporters of the Stuarts entrenched themselves in the castle with 300 Spanish soldiers who had come to support the Jacobite cause. Two months later the castle was bombarded by three English frigates. It was nothing but ruins when, in the 1920's, Farquhar Macrae and John Macrae-Gilstrap began tthe task of restoring it to its former glory.

Eilean Donan before 1920


Banquet Hall

 Inside Eilean Donan-Kitchen

The film Highlander was filmed here


Eilean Donan and Loch Duich

Sunset. 
No matter from which angle or what sky, you could put every photo of the castle here, they'd all be perfect!

© KH

2 comments:

Gattina said...

I love Scotland too have only been in the Highlands, Iverness and Lochness and Edinburgh of course, but haven't seen this castle ! It's so nice that it had been restored it looks so beautiful and the landscape around it too ! I want to go back there that's for sure !

Kati said...

It's my favourite part of the UK, Gatttina, the Highlands that is. I love it so much!
Thank you for visiting this blog as well. :)