Eilean Donan Castle - Scotland

Eilean Donan Castle is located in Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland, at the intersection of Loch Long, Loch Duich and Loch Alsh.  Although the strategically positioned island has been inhabited by a fortress since at least the Iron Age, the first known castle was constructed here in the mid-13th century as a defensive measure against the Vikings.  The remains of the old castle wall indicate that the original castle encompassed nearly the entire island.  The size was drastically reduced sometime in the 15^th century, possible to reduce the number of men required to man the castle.  Further changes were made between the 16^th and 17^th centuries, but by the early 1700’s the castle had fallen into some disrepair.  During the third Jacobite Rising in 1719, Eilean Donan was garrisoned by Spanish soldiers fighting for the Jacobites.  The castle was bombarded by two Government frigates and the Spaniards were forced to surrender.  The castle was subsequently blown up by the Government forces and abandoned.  The ruins stood until 1912, when a major restoration project was undertaken by Lt. Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap and Farquhar MacRae.  Based on surviving plans the castle was rebuilt over a period of 20 years and was completed in July of 1932.  The modern castle has appeared in a number of films including The Master of Ballantrae (1953), Highlander (1986) and The World is Not Enough (1999).  

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