Scottish Castles Association

Eilean Donan - as a ruin, and how it appears nowadays - which do you prefer?

Eilean Donan owes its appearance to an almost total rebuilding last century. Over the years the castle had taken on many shapes and sizes until 1719 when Spanish soldiers, in support of the Jacobites, stored gunpowder within its vaults.

The British government sent 3 warships to batter the castle into submission. This had absolutely no effect until a landing party forced surrender. The gunpowder proved too good a temptation and it was fired taking the castle with it.

Eilean Donan lay a shattered ruin until 1911 when it underwent an 'imaginative' restoration over a period of 20 years. This is probably the most iconic castle in Scotland, the backdrop to numerous films and friend of the shortbread industry.