Tarbert Castle, Scotland

 

Introduction

This evening, I am providing information on Tarbert Castle which is situated close to the popular tourist village of Tarbert. Location is S.W. Scotland on the southern shore of East Loch Tarbert.

Information on Tarbert Castle

The name Tarbert and its variants can be found in many places around Scotland. It means an isthmus or crossing place where boats could be hauled out of one stretch of water and transported to another. Usually associated with the Viking/Norse era 

A castle was built on the site (overlooking the harbour) during the 13th century with the tower house added in the 16th century. It is the latter which represents the most visible remains.The location also affords views of Loch Fyne and beyond to the Firth of Clyde.

In 1494 the castle was captured by King James IV from John MacDonald, Lord of the Isles.Another military event occurred in 1687 when Walter Campbell seized the castle in an action connected with the Monmouth rebellion in England.

The castle remains are now owned by the local community and forms part of a volunteer-maintained heritage park. 

Access is free.

I visited in context of a Firth of Clyde cruise on the historic paddle steamer Waverley. 

 More information on Scotland.

The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland comprises a vast array of information on 800 pages. ISBN is 978-1-9161`332-0-4. Also available via Kindle. 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap...
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Pri...
Read more

York, England and its Roman origins.

Image
Street decoration in York York is an ancient city in northern England. Here visitors can connect with the city's growth over the past 2000 years, from the Roman period then Viking, medieval and modern. However, this post places an emphasis on the Roman period. Roman York York was known as Eboracum. Consistent with other Roman forts the plan at York was based on a playing card design with strong external defences and a grid of streets inside. Hadrian visited in AD 120 in context of initiative to build his famous wall. Initially York was garrisoned by the Ninth Legion and subsequently the Sixth Legion. Roman HQ building The civilian section contained public buildings such as bath houses and temples plus fine houses for the wealthy. The Emperor, Septimus Severus used York as a base for military campaigns in the north during 208-211. In AD 306 the emperor Constantinus I died in York and his son Constantine the Great was acclaimed emperor by the army. R...
Read more