http://www.eileandonancastle.com/ | Fàilte gu Caisteal Eilean Donnain! Eilean Donan Castle is a fortification built on the small tidal island of Eilean Donan where three lochs meet, Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh. The island is named after the 6th century Irish Saint, Bishop Donan, who came to Scotland around 580 A.D. The castle dates back to the early 13th century. It was built to protect the inner lands of Kintail against Vikings from Norway. The Norwegian Vikings invaded and settled much of northern Scotland between 800 and 1266. This island was a perfect place to build a strategic base that could over see the three lochs. At one time Eilean Donan had a large wall with towers that went around the perimeter of the island. Around the 14th century the area around the castle shrunk tremendously due to the number of men stationed there leaving to defend other parts of Scotland. The castle stayed quite until the 17th and 18th centuries when the Jacobite's risings practically destroyed the castle. In 1719 the castle was stationed by 46 Spanish soldiers that supported the Jacobites. When the English government heard news of the uprisings, they sent troops all over the British Isles to suppress them, including Eilean Donan Castle. The castle was bombed for three days, but of little affect due to the 14 foot thick parts of the walls. Eventually the Spanish were over run and the English finally captured the castle. The castle wasn't touched again and went into ruins due to the damage until 1911, when Lt. Colonel Macrae-Gilstrap bought the island and restored the castle. The castle never did have a bridge, so he added a nice bridge connecting the island to the mainland. Today Eilean Donan is one of the most popular castles in Scotland. Mòran taing airson tadhal! |