Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan simply means 'island on Donan'. It takes its name from the 6th century Irish Saint, Bishop Donan.

It was left abandoned and ruinous for 200 years until Lt Col. John MacRae-Gilstrap purchased it in 1912 and set about restoring it to its former glory. The site itself has a long and turbulent history which is reflected in its reconstruction.

It was destroyed at the time of the third Jacobite Uprising in 1719, when 46 Spaniards garrisoned the castle on behalf of the Scots. When the three government boats bombarded the island, the castle was forced to surrender. Having accepted the surrender, the Captain issued orders for the castle to be blown up using the 343 barrels of gunpowder stored in the garrison's own powder magazine.

Today, in its restored state, you can explore almost every part of the Castle from the Banqueting Hall to the bedrooms. You'll be following in the footsteps of many a warrior - from the Vikings to the Jacobites. Make sure you see the Billeting Room - once the billet for off-duty soldiers. The single barrel vault which spans the room is some 2.5 ft deep and the walls are a massive 14 ft thick.