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Armadale Castle is on the Isle of Skye,
under 1 mile north of the ferry port of
Armadale, 20 miles south of the
Skye
Bridge, built from 1815 for Clan
MacDonald.
Open 1 April - 31 October daily, 9.30 -
17.00 with an entrance fee. View the website
for winter opening days / times. Postcode: IV45
8RS
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Click on Map for Area Attractions
Skye Attractions
List
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The images top right are of the entrance
Visitor Centre and Gift Shop.
The third image is of the first view of
Armadale Castle from the drive.
The fourth image is of Armadale Castle from
the lawn. From here, you get good views over
Armadale Pier where the Ferries from
Mallaig on the Scottish mainland
dock. The crossing takes about 30 minutes.
The white Mansion on the right was built in
1790, with the first parts of the Castle built
next to the Mansion in 1815.
In the Castle grounds is the Museum of the
Isles, a modern museum giving information on
the history of the Islands, Island Clans, and
Battles.
By the entrance to Armadale Castle is a
Cafe / Diner,
in the former Stable Building of the
Castle.
Armadale Castle History
800s - Vikings began taking control of Skye
and most other Scottish Islands.
1100s - Scots Kings began forcing the
Vikings out of the Islands. Scots Kings from
that time used Scots Clans to help them gain,
and keep control of all Scotland.
Many Scots Clans had long running feuds with
neighbouring Clans, often lasting hundreds of
years. Many of these feuds only ended through
marriage, or laws in the 1500s to 1700s being
enforced more vigorously, leading to people
murdering their neighbour being sentenced to a
gruesome execution in a public place. The
Maiden
Guillotine in Edinburgh was used to execute
a number of prominent Clan members.
1200s - Clan Donald was a prominent Clan in
the Western Isles of Scotland, descendants of
Vikings that claimed to be Kings of the
Isles.
1200s - Clan MacLeod took control of
Dunvegan in the north of Skye, then many other
areas around Skye. This Clan was probably
descended from Vikings.
1400s early - Clan MacDonald arrive on the
Isle of Skye taking Dunskaith
Castle on the southwest of Skye from the
MacAskill's to serve as their main stronghold,
10 miles northwest of Armadale.
1469 - Clan MacDonald took control of the
area around Portree through a Royal Charter,
with Clan MacNicol of that area being their
allies.
1400s late - Clan MacDonald took Knock
Castle on southeast Skye from Clan MacLeod, 4
miles north of Armadale.
1490? - Clan Macdonald and Clan MacLeod had
a major Battle at
Glendale on Skye, with heavy losses on both
sides, with Clan MacLeod claiming victory.
1520 - Clan MacDonald took Duntulm Castle in
the northwest of Skye from Clan MacLeod after a
series of battles.
Clan MacDonald and Clan MacLeod had many
battles fighting over Castles and land.
Marriage was used to try and unite the two
Clans but failed, leading to more battles.
Intervention by the Government led to peace
between the two Clans from 1603.
1600s early- Clan MacDonald abandoned
Dunscaith Castle with it falling into ruin.
1650s - Clan MacDonald Chiefs began living
at Armadale in a Mansion named Armadalebeg.
1689 - Clan MacDonald abandoned Knock Castle
with it falling into ruin.
1690s - Armadalebeg Mansion was destroyed by
Government forces after Clan MacDonald
supported an early Jacobite Rising. A new
building was built soon after for Clan
MacDonald.
1728 - the widowed mother of Flora MacDonald
married Hugh MacDonald of Armadale, Factor of
Armadale Estate.
1732 - Clan MacDonald abandoned Duntulm
Castle as it fell into ruin.
1746 - Clan MacDonald and Clan MacLeod of
Skye supported the Government in the 45
Jacobite Rebellion. Many other Clan MacDonald
and Clan MacLeod, from other areas, fought on
the Jacobite side at the Battle of
Culloden.
1746 - Flora MacDonald
helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape to France
after the failed Jacobite
Rising of that year. This led to Flora
being locked up in the Tower of London until
the following year.
Clans that fought for the Jacobite's in the
1745 rebellion were then persecuted by having
their homes destroyed, cattle killed, and
encouraged to emigrate.
Clans that supported the Government, held on
to their Castles, Land, Titles and Wealth.
1750 - Flora MacDonald was married to Allan
MacDonald of Kingsburgh at Armadalebeg.
1790 - a new Mansion House was built on this
site to replace the original building.
1815 - a Scottish baronial style Castle was
built next to the Mansion House to designs of
James Gillespie Graham.
1855 - part of the Castle was destroyed by
fire. It was replaced with a design by David
Bryce.
1925 - the Castle was abandoned by the
MacDonald's as it fell into disrepair.
1971 - the Castle and surrounding 20,000
acre estate were bought by the Clan Donald
Lands Trust.
1975 - the Mansion was used for the Museum
of the Isles. The Castle Ruin and Gardens have
since served as a visitor attraction.
1981 - the unstable Gothic Wing of the
Castle was demolishing, leaving just the Grand
Entrance.
2002 - The New Museum of the Isles was
completed a short walk up behind Armadale
Castle. The Mansion was then converted to serve
as a Wedding Venue and Conference Centre.
2026 - Armadale Castle and Estate were sold
to the Hutcheson family for £10 million?
with the Castle still to be used as a Tourist
Attraction.
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