sunset, Castle Tioram
sunset, Castle Tioram

Castle Tioram, meaning "dry castle" is a ruined castle that sits on the tidal island of Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It is located west of Acharacle, approximately 50 miles from Fort William. Though hidden from the sea, the castle controls access to Loch Shiel. It is also known to the locals as "Dorlin castle"
The castle is the traditional seat of Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald. It was seized by Government forces around 1692 when Clan Chief Allan of Clanranald joined the Jacobite Court in France, despite having sworn allegiance to the British Crown. A small garrison was stationed in the castle until the Jacobite uprising of 1715 when Allan recaptured and torched it, purportedly to keep it out of the hands of Hanoverian forces. It has been unoccupied since that time, although there are some accounts suggesting it was partially inhabited thereafter including storage of firearms from the De Tuillay in the 1745 Jacobite uprising and Lady Grange's account of her kidnapping.
The curtain wall is believed to date from the 13th century whilst the tower and other interior buildings are of 15th to 17th century construction. It is likely that the dry island, flanked by beaches ideal for pulling up highland galleys or birlinns and with a sheltered deep anchorage on the northeast side, would have been used long before the castle was built. The discovery of a 7th century bronze hanging-bowl in a castle midden indicates that the site had probably been of importance before it was chosen as a medieval base. Small pieces of worked steatite found on the beach below the castle point to the probable presence of Vikings.

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sunset, Castle Tioram

Castle Tioram, meaning "dry castle" is a ruined castle that sits on the tidal island of Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It is located west of Acharacle, approximately 50 miles from Fort William. Though hidden from the sea, the castle controls access to Loch Shiel. It is also known to the locals as "Dorlin castle"
The castle is the traditional seat of Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald. It was seized by Government forces around 1692 when Clan Chief Allan of Clanranald joined the Jacobite Court in France, despite having sworn allegiance to the British Crown. A small garrison was stationed in the castle until the Jacobite uprising of 1715 when Allan recaptured and torched it, purportedly to keep it out of the hands of Hanoverian forces. It has been unoccupied since that time, although there are some accounts suggesting it was partially inhabited thereafter including storage of firearms from the De Tuillay in the 1745 Jacobite uprising and Lady Grange's account of her kidnapping.
The curtain wall is believed to date from the 13th century whilst the tower and other interior buildings are of 15th to 17th century construction. It is likely that the dry island, flanked by beaches ideal for pulling up highland galleys or birlinns and with a sheltered deep anchorage on the northeast side, would have been used long before the castle was built. The discovery of a 7th century bronze hanging-bowl in a castle midden indicates that the site had probably been of importance before it was chosen as a medieval base. Small pieces of worked steatite found on the beach below the castle point to the probable presence of Vikings.

Buy this print online:

 
Item added to cart