Probably Scotland's most photographed castle. Its location on a small offshore island within the Loch, with access via the sinuous bridge road, is iconic. It lies at the junction of three lochs; Loch Alsh, Loch Duich, and Loch Long. The oldest parts of this, now restored, castle have their origins in the 13th Century. The castle owes its name to the Celtic saint Donan who was the first to live on the island, but it was Alexander the Second who built a castle to defend against marauding Vikings. It later passed to the Clan Mackenzie, and later to the Clan Macrae, whose headquarters Eilean Donan Castle now houses. Robert the Bruce sheltered here in 1306. The castle was destroyed by cannonball fired by government frigates in 1719, as the castle was garrisoned with Spanish troops supporting the Jacobite rising of 1719. My first memorable view of this Scottish picture postcard image was in the film Highlander.
Location: Eilean Donan Castle, near Dornie, Scottish Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom
Photographer: Jason Gilchrist
