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Location
Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, Highland, Scotland
Description
Castle Tioram is a ruined castle located on the tidal island Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, Lochaber, Scotland. Castle Tioram is pronounced "Chee-rum" and is derived from the Gaelic "Caisteal Tioram" meaning "dry castle". The castle is the traditional seat of the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald. The ruined keep is located at the south east of a courtyard surrounded by a roughly five-sided curtain wall.
The tower originally had a basement, a hall on the first floor, chambers of the second floor, and possibly servants quarters on the third floor. The ramparts were crenellated. An extra floor was added to the tower in the 17th century and the infilled original crenellation can be seen near the top of wall.
The castle is in poor condition and was closed to the public in 1998 at the request of Highland Council. Part of the northwest curtain wall collapsed in 2000. The castle is an A listed building and scheduled ancient monument. The outside of the castle can be reached by foot across a sandy causeway at high tide.
History
Castle Tioram was seized by Government forces around 1692 when Clan Chief Allan of Clan Ranald joined the Jacobite Court in France. A small garrison was stationed in the Castle until the Jacobite Uprising of 1715 when Clan Chief Allan recaptured and burned down the castle to keep it out of the hands of the Hanoverian forces. It has been unoccupied since then.
The tower and other buildings in the courtyard are of 15th to 17th century construction. The curtain wall is believed to date from the 13th century.
Other Castles in the Area
Glenborrodale Castle, Highland
Glengorm Castle, Argyll and Bute
Kinlochaline Castle, Highland
Mingary Castle, Highland
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Castle Tioram
Photograph by Dr Torsten Henning. License: Public Domain. (view image details)
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