Dunstaffnage Castle

Dunstaffnage Castle is a ruined courtyard castle on a rocky crag a few miles outside Oban, and dates back to the 13th century. It is managed by Historic Environment Scotland and is open for a fee.

The footprint of the castle is irregular, following the edge of the rock, and there are three mural towers, one of which has been converted to form a great gatehouse. Inside are buildings that date from the 13th to the 18th centuries, although the older buildings are mostly badly ruined. The castle was probably founded in the 1220s by Duncan MacDougall of Lorn, and extended by his son Ewan. As supporters of the Scottish Crown and John Balliol, they were targets of pro-Bruce allies in the Wars of independence, and Dunstaffnage was captured in 1309, after which it was a royal fortress. In the reign of James III it was granted to the Campbell Earl of Argyll and maintained by the family up until the 18th century, by which point it had been destroyed by fire. A new house was erected in 1727 inside the gatehouse, but another fire made it less desirable to live in, and it was given tenants instead. It was handed over to the State in 1958, which enabled repairs to be carried out.

Official Historic Scotland page

HES Canmore database entry