- Achallader Castle
Achallader Castle is a ruined 16th century tower house under the shadow of
Beinn Achaladair , about 3.5 miles north ofBridge of Orchy ,Argyll ,Scotland . Its name is from Gaelic, meaning field of hard water.History
The tower originally belonged to the Fletcher family, but Sir Duncan Campbell of
Glen Orchy , built most of the existing tower, which he acquired in 1590. The MacGregors burnt the castle in 1603.In the summer of 1683 a Commission for the settlement of the Highlands, led by Sir William Drummond of Cromlix stayed at the castle, welcoming, among others McIain, the future victim, with his clan, of the
massacre of Glencoe .In 1689, with
William and Mary now reigning, the McIain’s returning from their victory at Killiecrankie and repulse atDunkeld , pulled down what they could of the castle. It was never restored.In June 1691 John, Earl of Breadalbane, empowered by King William to treat with the clans, conferred with the highland chiefs in the ruin of the castle. By a mixture of threats, promises of bribes, and duplicity, he persuaded most of the clans -but not the McIains - to enter a treaty. This included secret provisions, which he later denied, including the right of the chiefs to request relief from their oaths of allegiance from the exiled James VII and II. The promised bribes did not materialise.
Description
The castle formerly rose to three storeys and a
garret , well defended by shot-holes. Now only two walls, one with a trace ofcorbel ling, remain, sheltering the farm buildings of Achallader Farm.Tradition
It is said that when the Fletchers owned Achallader, Sir Duncan Campbell - known as Black Duncan - ordered an English servant (or soldier) to pasture his horse in the Fletchers’ corn. When warned off by the Fletchers - in Gaelic - he did not understand; when he did not remove his horse they shot him. Black Duncan, affecting concern that the Fletcher laird would be hanged for the killing, advised him to flee to France. Before he fled he passed the property to Black Duncan, supposedly until his return, to prevent it being forfeited to the Crown. The Fletchers never recovered the property.
Bibliography
* "The Castles of Scotland", Martin Coventry, Goblinshead, 2001
* "The Munros", Cameron McNeish, Lomond Books, 1996
* "Glencoe",John Prebble , Penguin, 1966.
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