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Last update 07/02/2019
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TITLE
Eilean Donan Castle
EXTERNAL ID
PC_JMSTRACHAN_113
PLACENAME
Dornie
DISTRICT
South West Ross
OLD COUNTY/PARISH
ROSS: Lochalsh
CREATOR
JM Strachan
SOURCE
J I R Martin
ASSET ID
28966
KEYWORDS
castles
lochs
Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan (Scottish Gaelic for Island of Donan), is a small island in Loch Duich in the western Highlands of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge and lies about half a mile from the village of Dornie. Eilean Donan is named after St. Donan, a Celtic saint martyred in the Dark Ages.

This castle was built on a position of strategic importance to counter the Vikings, whose raids and incursions were still a potent threat in the north of Scotland. Over the years, the castle expanded and contracted in size. It was garrisoned by Jacobite supporters during their rebellions in the eighteenth century in favour of the House of Stewart, and this action led to the castle's destruction.

Eilean Donan Castle lay in ruins for almost 200 years until Lt Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and dedicated the next 20 years of his life to restoring the castle. It was completed in 1932.

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Eilean Donan Castle

ROSS: Lochalsh

castles; lochs

J I R Martin

Eilean Donan (Scottish Gaelic for Island of Donan), is a small island in Loch Duich in the western Highlands of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge and lies about half a mile from the village of Dornie. Eilean Donan is named after St. Donan, a Celtic saint martyred in the Dark Ages.<br /> <br /> This castle was built on a position of strategic importance to counter the Vikings, whose raids and incursions were still a potent threat in the north of Scotland. Over the years, the castle expanded and contracted in size. It was garrisoned by Jacobite supporters during their rebellions in the eighteenth century in favour of the House of Stewart, and this action led to the castle's destruction. <br /> <br /> Eilean Donan Castle lay in ruins for almost 200 years until Lt Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and dedicated the next 20 years of his life to restoring the castle. It was completed in 1932.