Dunscaith Castle

Dunscaith Castle
Dunscaith Castle
View from below.

Dunscaith Castle also known as Dun Sgathaich Castle, Dun Scaich, and Tokavaig, is a ruined castle on the coast of the Isle of Skye, in the north-west of Scotland. It is located in the Parish of Sleat, in the Highland council area, and in the former county of Inverness-shire, at grid reference NG595120.

History

The castle itself sits on an off-shore rock. The rock rises 40 feet above sea level and there is a gap of 20 feet between the rock and the mainland. The gap was once spanned by a walled bridge with arches 6 feet apart. This stone walled bridge then led onto a drawbridge, the pivot holes for which are still visible on the far side. Once on the other side of the drawbridge a door opened to a flight of stairs which was also sided by two walls. The flight of stairs led up to the castle.

Parts of the castle curtain wall still survive on the cliff edge but most of the inner buildings have gone. The curtain wall was about 5 ft thick. In the courtyard is a well and the remains of a stairway which once led up a tower.

Originally the castle belonged to the Clan MacDonald of Sleat, a branch of the Clan Donald or MacDonald. At some time in the 14th century it was taken from them by the Clan MacLeod and held briefly by the MacAskills, allies of the MacLeods but it was recaptured by the MacDonalds sometime in the 15th century.

In the 15th century the castle was again captured by King James I of Scotland when the Chief of the Clan Donald, Lord of the Isles was broken by King James I. The MacDonalds were allowed to keep possession of the castle. The MacDonalds abandoned the castle in the early 17th century.

See also

External links

Coordinates: 57°8′11.4″N 5°58′32.76″W / 57.1365°N 5.9757667°W / 57.1365; -5.9757667



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Duntulm Castle — Trotternish, Skye, Scotland OSGB grid reference NG408742 …   Wikipedia

  • Dunvegan Castle — Dunvegan Castle, main entrance …   Wikipedia

  • Clan Macdonald of Sleat — Clann Ùisdein Crest badge …   Wikipedia

  • Clan MacLeod — Sìol Tormoid Crest badge …   Wikipedia

  • Clan Donald — Crest badge …   Wikipedia

  • Dunvegan Cup — The Dunvegan Cup, Fairy Flag, and Sir Rory Mor s Horn are heirlooms of the Macleods of Dunvegan. This photo was taken sometime before 1927. The Dunvegan Cup is a wooden ceremonial cup, decorated with silver plates, which dates …   Wikipedia

  • Skye — Infobox Scottish island | GridReference=NG452319 celtic name=Audio|AntEileanSgitheanach.ogg|An t Eilean Sgitheanach norse name=Skíð meaning of name= Etymology unclear area=1,656.25 km² (639.21 sq mi) area rank=2 highest elevation= Sgurr Alasdair… …   Wikipedia

  • Church of St Clement, Rodel — Saint Clement s church photographed from the pathway leading up to the main entrance St Clement s Church (Scottish Gaelic: Tùr Chliamhainn, meaning Clement s Tower) is a fifteenth century church in Rodel, Harris, Scotland, built for the Chiefs of …   Wikipedia

  • Chiefs of Clan MacLeod — The Chiefs of Clan MacLeod claim descent from Leod, a high born Norse Gael who is thought to have lived in the 13th century, but whose ancestors are known from multiple pedigrees at least into the early 12th or late 11th centuries. It is said… …   Wikipedia

  • Malcolm MacLeod (clan chief) — For other people of the same name, see Malcolm MacLeod. Malcolm MacLeod Born 1296 Died 1370 Castle of Stornoway, Lewis Resting place Iona Predecessor Tormod (father) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”