Armadale Castle is the 19th century seat of the Clan MacDonalds in the south of Skye.  The castle was built in 1815 and extended in 1855, but the MacDonald family moved out in 1925 and then the castle suffered a major fire and became the ruin that you see today. It was purchased by Clan Donald Lands Trust that started renovating it and turned it into a museum. You can explore 40 acres of beautiful woodland walks and enjoy spectacular views over the sea to the majestic mountains of Knoydart.

You can also learn about Highland history in their fascinating Museum of the Isles, Skye’s only Museums Galleries Scotland accredited museum!

Dunvegan Castle can be found on the Eastern shore of the Isle of Skye overlooking Loch Dunvegan. Dunvegan Castle is by far the most famous castle on the Isle of Skye. Probably occupying the site of a much earlier fortification, Dunvegan Castle was built in the thirteenth century by the MacLeod clan as part of their efforts to secure control of the Isle of Skye. It was substantially rebuilt in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries creating the structure seen today. It is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland.

Castle Ewen is a natural landmark located in Fairy Glen, in the northern part of the island. One of the hills of the glen  still has its basalt topping intact which, from a distance, looks like a ruin and has been called  Castle Ewan. It is possible to climb to the top where there is not much room, but does have wonderful views. In the low cliff behind Castle Ewan there is a very small cave where it has been said pressing coins into cracks in the rock will bring Good Luck.

Although on the mainland it would be remis of me not to mention the classic Eilean Donan Castle. The first castle was built in the 13th Century to protect the surrounding lands from Viking raiders. The island it was built on was called Saint Donan’s Isle, and its current name derives from its Gaelic name – Eilean Donan.

Over the centuries the castle expanded until 1719 when it was occupied by Spanish soldiers and blown up by the Royal Navy during the 1719 Jacobite Uprising. For nearly 200 years a neglected stump was all that was left of the castle sitting on its little island.

In 1911 John Macrae-Gilstrap bought the island and set to work rebuilding the castle. It took 20 years, but the result of his efforts is quite simply magical, providing one of Scotland’s most iconic sights and certainly one of the best castles in Scotland.