Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 11 on 17/11/2003.

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Covert Castles on the coast

John Hannavy discovers some lesser-known gems

Probably no more than five per cent of Scotland is well visited and well known, and no more than five per cent of Scottish castles are instantly recognisable.

It follows therefore that 95 per cent of Scotland must be little known or unknown to most people, and the same must go for the castles strewn across that wild expanse of land.

Everyone recognises Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Balmoral, Glamis, Eilean Donan – but what about Castle Coeffin, Castle Moll, Aros Castle and hundreds of others?

That’s what makes exploration so exciting, and that is what can make turning a corner in a remote part of the country – or more especially one of the western islands – in to such a romantic experience.

Some of the castles might have seen much better days and now they may be no more than fragmentary ruins perched on top of a small hillock – but what they bring to the landscape is fantastic and what they have contributed to the rich history of Scotland is immeasurable.

All the castles on these pages have one thing in common – they stand on islands off the west coast. Some of the most dramatic castles stand on tiny islands – such as the small rocky outcrop on which stands Castle Stalker – while others can be found on the Isle of Mull, the Isle of Skye, and on the beautiful island of Lismore at the meeting of Loch Linnhe and the Firth of Lorne.

Castle Stalker, which is still a private residence, sits tantalisingly just beyond reach off the west coast near Portnacroisch, but it doe.....

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By John Hannavy

Section : Scottish Castles

Page number : 16