Britain - Ireland - Castles . com
Castles and Historic Buildings of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland

 Castles of Scotland - Kilchurn Castle






Map by mapchart.net - Some rights reserved.


Location
Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute, Scotland

Description
Access to Kilchurn Castle is via th A85, then by boat from Lochawe pier, or on foot from Dalmally.

Kilchurn Castle ruin is located on the north eastern end of Loch Awe, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It was the ancestral home of the Campbells of Glenorchy, who later became the Earls of Breadalbane. The original castle was a tower house and a hall (Laich Hall). Kilchurn Castle was built in about 1450 by Sir Colin Campbell, first Lord of Glenorchy. It was a five storey tower house with a courtyard surrounded by an outer wall. By about 1500 an additional range and a hall had been added to the south side of the castle. Further buildings were added in the 16th and 17th centuries. During the second half of the century the tower house was renovated including the addition of circular corner turrets adorned by corbels, most of which have survived. The ruin is in the care of Historic Scotland, and is open to the public during the summer.

History
In 1681 Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy converted Kilchurn into a modern barracks, capable of housing 200 troops. His main addition was the three storey L-shaped block along the north side. Kilchurn was used as a Government garrison during the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite risings. In 1760 the castle was badly damaged by a violent storm and was abandoned.


Other Castles in the Area
  Barcaldine Castle, Argyll and Bute
  Castle Stalker, Argyll and Bute
  Dunderave Castle, Argyll and Bute
  Innis Chonnel Castle, Argyll and Bute
  Inveraray Castle, Argyll and Bute







Inveraray Castle
View of the north side of Kilchurn Castle from the path from the car park.

Photograph by Stuart Wilding. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

Inveraray Castle
Kilchurn Castle is a ruined castle on the banks of Loch Awe

Photograph by G Laird. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

Inveraray Castle
The three-storey towerhouse is the earliest part of Kilchurn Castle. It was built by Sir Colin Campbell in the middle years of the 15th century. The stone pile in front is the remains of the south-west turret which has fallen to the ground and lies upside down.

Photograph by Patrick Mackie. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

© OpenStreetMap contributors licensed as CC BY-SA