Dunvegan Castle on Isle of Skye: A top attraction with rising visitor numbers.





Landscape view of Dunvegan Castle from Loch Dunvegan.

Video clip

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This evening, I am posting information on Dunvegan Castle, one of the top visitor attractions on the Isle of Skye which in turn is one of Scotland’s top visitor sites, located off the N.W.coast.

This castle is the ancestral home of the Chief of Clan MacLeod and has been occupied by the MacLeods for 800 years, dating from the time when Leod, son of Olaf the Black, founded the dynasty.The landed estate extends to 65 square miles including the famous Cuillin mountains.

The current Clan Chief (the 30th) is Hugh MacLeod of MacLeod.

Following an extensive-and expensive-programme of refurbishment and repairs the castle is on course to double the number of visitors over the past decade to 175,000.

Dunvegan Castle occupies a strategic, coastal position on the N.W. coast of Skye.

Main entrance to Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye

Historical features of note include:
  • Square keep (14th c) and Fairy Tower (16th c) suffered from remodelling in the 19th century.
  • Until 18th century the only access was via a northern sea gate.
  • Interesting interior appropriate for an ancestral home dating back to the 1270s.
  • Due to depleted manpower, the MacLeods did not participate in the Jacobite uprisings of 1689 and 1715.

Garden Waterfall at Dunvegan Castle

Facilities at the Castle include:
  • An extensive and well maintained Highland garden complete with waterfall.
  • Restaurant.
  • Seal-watching trips on small boats.

Common Seals near Dunvegan Castle, Skye

Dunvegan Castle fits in nicely with a one-day (or longer) circular tour of the Isle of Skye.

Acknowledgement: Some of the information in this post was obtained from today's edition of the Times newspaper.

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