🏰 Duntulm Castle
The Defiant Fortress of the North
If you’re taking your van around the Trotternish Loop on the Isle of Skye, you have to pull over at the
northern tip to see the ruins of Duntulm
Castle. Perched precariously on a basalt cliff overlooking the Minch,
it’s the definition of "rugged Scotland."
📍 Location
- Where is it? Situated at the
northernmost point of the Trotternish
Peninsula on the Isle of
Skye.
- Setting: It’s surrounded on three
sides by steep drops into the sea. On a clear day, you can look across the
water to the Outer Hebrides (Harris and North Uist).
- Coordinates: 57.683N, 6.350W – ///witty.pram.should
- Access Note: The road (A850/A855)
is spectacular but can be narrow in places—take it slow in the bigger
rigs!
📜 A Timeline of
History and Inhabitants
The site has been a defensive position since the Iron Age,
but its "glory days" were defined by the fierce rivalry between the
MacLeods and the MacDonalds.
1. The Early Fort
(Pre-14th Century)
- Long
before the stone castle, this was a Dun (a prehistoric fort). Its name, Duntulm, likely
means "Fort of the Grassy Hill."
2. The MacLeod &
MacDonald Tug-of-War
- The MacLeods: Originally held by
the Clan MacLeod.
- The MacDonald Takeover: In the 15th century, the MacDonalds of Sleat (the powerful
"Lords of the Isles") seized the castle. It became their
principal seat, and they moved their headquarters here from South Skye to
better guard the sea lanes.
3. The 17th Century
Peak
- The castle
was expanded into a luxurious (for the time) residence. It featured a
great hall, a massive curtain wall, and a tower. It was the heart of the
MacDonald empire in the North.
4. Abandonment and
Ghosts (1730s)
- The Move: The MacDonalds
abandoned Duntulm in 1732,
moving to the more "modern" and comfortable Monkstat House.
- The Legend: Local lore says they
left because the castle was too haunted. One famous ghost is Hugh MacDonald, who was
imprisoned in the dungeon and fed only salt beef with no water until he
went mad. Another is the distraught
nursemaid who accidentally dropped the Chief’s infant son from a
window onto the rocks below.
👑 Significance in
History and Politics
Duntulm wasn't just a home; it was a political statement of
defiance.
- Lords of the Isles vs. The Crown:
The MacDonalds of Sleat were essentially "Kings in the North."
Duntulm served as a reminder to the Scottish Kings in Edinburgh that the
Highland and Island clans were a force to be reckoned with.
- Maritime Strategy: Before roads
existed, the "highways" of Scotland were the sea lochs. Duntulm
allowed the MacDonalds to control the Minch (the sea between Skye and the Outer Hebrides), taxing
or attacking ships as they saw fit.
- The End of an Era: The
abandonment of Duntulm in the 1730s signaled a major shift in Scottish
politics. Following the Jacobite Risings, the old
"warrior-chief" lifestyle was dying out, replaced by the
"landed gentry" style of living that led to the Highland
Clearances.
Johnny’s Travel Tip:
There is a small parking area nearby, but it fills up fast in the summer! It’s
a short, grassy walk to the ruins, but stay
back from the edges—the cliff is eroding and can be unstable.
Have you braved the
wind at Duntulm, or do you prefer the calmer views at Dunvegan? Share
your Skye stories below! 🚐💨👇
#MotorhomeTouringScotland #DuntulmCastle #IsleOfSkye
#Trotternish #ScottishHistory #LochNessToSkye #JohnnyBurr
For more of the
Castles of Scotland series visit:
https://castlesinscotland.blogspot.com
https://www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk/the-best-castles/scenic-castles/duntulm-castle/
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