http://www.medievalhistories.com/wp-content/uploads/mingary-castle-from-afar-500x319.jpg 500w, Mingary Castle in the peninsula of the Ardnamurchan has been called the most intact thirteenth century castle in Scotland. After full restoration, the castle now offers a luxurious stay for select groups of up to ten people.
Mingary Castle once dominated the entrance through the Sound of Mull to the interior of the Scottish Highlands. It was built in the 13th century by the MacDougals, but later became the seat of the chiefs of the MacIains, a sept of the MacDonalds, also known as the Lords of the Isles.
The castle was repeatedly laid under siege in the hostilities between the Lords of the Isles and the crown of Scotland. It was last fought over in the 1645 during the Civil War.
With thick curtain walls, the design of the seaboard castle is typical of other such castles along the West Coast. The walls fitted with lancet windows and original battlements measure more than 2.5 m and are 14 m high. To the north is a ditch 7.5 m wide and 3 m deep. Due to the form of the rock, on which it is built, the plan is an irregular hexagon. At the south end is a sea gate, now fitted with stairs, which lead down to the water.
Inside the walls are three ranges, of which the oldest is the northern. Parts of these ruined buildings preserve original medieval fabric, but later rebuilding dominates. The northern held the hall, while the western range probably held the kitchen and storage room.
Restoration
Bathroom fitted to a room which was perhaps the medieval chapel
Luckily no guests are expected to use the medieval gardarobesThe castle was abandoned in 1819, when the owners immigrated to Canada. In 1838, the interior was stripped for anything valuable and the buildings have for a long period been deemed unsafe. In the same manner as Castle Tioram it shared the fate of being forgotten and abandoned to its crumbling fate.
However, while a restoration of the Castle Tioramfurther up the West Coast famously met with fierce opposition, this has not been the result at Mingary. Here the laird of Ardnamurchan took the initiative to found the Mingary Castle Trust in order to excavate, study and restore the castle to its former glory. Later a decision was taken to rebuild the interior ranges, fitting them with luxurious apartments including bathrooms, a lounge, a sitting room and a dining area plus ample kitchen facilities; thus no medieval gardarobes. In the west range is a suite complete with private sitting room, burning stove and a kitchenette. Not that guests might wish to cook their own meals. A stay at castle Mingary comes fully catered. Curiously enough guest are offered the option of a full Scottish breakfast – but no haggis. Also, the wild surroundings with its profusion of daffodils are long gone. Instead the castle offers a formal garden.
First Guests
May 2016 the drawbridge was finally lowered to receive the first guest in 150 years. Should anyone be tempted to brave the sleeze and the bleak weather in December, the castle offers to organize “ a fairy-tale Christmas” for ten people for five nights: price £13.250!
SOURCES:
Analytical and Historical Assessment of Mingary Castle, Ardnamurcha...
By Tom Addyman and Richard Oram 2012
Mingary Castle Blogpost kept tab of the restoration from 2013 and tells the wonderful story of the restoration of the castle
The Kilchoan Blogspot offers an impressive archive of unplugged stories of the little life at Ardnamurchan surrounding the Castle of Mingary
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