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Location
Tokavaig, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Description
Dunscaith Castle is situated on the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye in the north of Scotland. The castle is built on an off-shore rock rising 40 feet above sea level. There is a gap of 20 feet between the rock and the mainland. The gap was once spanned by a walled bridge that led to a drawbridge. On the other side of the drawbridge, a door opened to a flight of stairs which was also sided by two walls. The flight of stairs led up to the castle. Parts of the castle curtain wall still survive on the cliff edge but most of the inner buildings have gone. The curtain wall was about 5 ft thick. In the courtyard is a well and the remains of a stairway which once led up a tower.
History
Originally the castle belonged to the Clan MacDonald of Sleat . During the 14th century it was taken from them by the Clan MacLeod but was recaptured by the MacDonalds in the 15th century. In the 15th century the castle was captured by King James I of Scotland, although the MacDonalds were allowed to keep possession of the castle. The MacDonalds abandoned the castle in the early 17th century.
Other Castles in the Area
Armadale Castle, Isle of Skye
Caisteal Maol, Isle of Skye
Kinloch Castle, Highland
Knock Castle, Isle of Skye
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Dunscaith Castle. A view showing the remains of the bridge linking the castle to mainland Sleat. The two walls of the bridge are intact, but there is no longer a floor to it.
Photograph by John Allan. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
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© OpenStreetMap contributors licensed as CC BY-SA
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