|
Dunvegan Castle is on the Isle of Skye, 1
mile north of Dunvegan Village, 20 miles west of
Portree,
built from the 1200s for Clan MacLeod.
Open 1st April - 15th October daily 10am -
5.30pm (last entry 5pm). Short Seal Trips are
also available from the Castle. Postcode: IV55
8WF
For Images on Mobile swipe right
Click on Map for area Attractions
Attractions
List
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The image top is of Dunvegan Castle Visitor
Centre with a large car park.
The second image is of Dunvegan Castle
overlooking Dunvegan Loch from a viewpoint just
north of the Castle.
The Castle Gardens have a Walled Garden and
Waterfalls.
The Graves of 6 Clan Chiefs from Dunvegan
Castle are at St Mary's Old Church, at the
north end of Dunvegan village, 300 yards up the
road to Portree.
Seven of the earliest Chiefs were buried at
Iona
Abbey, more at St Clement's
Church in Rodel on the Isle of Harris.
Other attractions also in the area not to be
missed are Coral Beach 4 miles north,
Andrew MacAskill the Giants museum in Dunvegan 1 mile
south, and Neist Point 11 miles southwest.
Dunvegan Castle History
800s - Vikings had taken control of Skye and
most other Scottish Islands.
1100s - Scots Kings began pushing the
Vikings out of the Islands by using Scots Clans
to help them keep control of all Scotland.
Most Scots Clans had long running feuds with
neighbouring Clans, with many of these feuds
only ending through marriage, or stricter laws
introduced from the 1500s to 1700s. People then
found guilty of murdering their neighbour could
be sentenced to a gruesome execution in a
public place. The Maiden
Guillotine in Edinburgh was used to execute
some prominent Clan members.
1200s - Clan MacLeod took control of
Dunvegan in the northwest of Skye with the
earliest parts of Dunvegan Castle built at that
time. The Castle Estate is about 42,000 acres,
including the area with the Cuillin Mountains
and Fairy Pools. This Clan was probably
descended from Vikings.
1200s - Clan Donald became a prominent Clan
in the Western Isles of Scotland, descendants
of Vikings that claimed to be Kings of the
Isles.
1300s - a Tower House was built at Dunvegan
Castle.
1300s - Clan MacLeod build Duntulm
Castle 37 miles north of their Dunvegan
Castle.
1400s - Clan Donald arrive on the Isle of
Skye, taking control of the southeast area.
Clan MacLeod and Clan MacDonald had many
feuds over Castles and land. Marriage was used
once to try and unite the two Clans, but
failed.
1539 - Clan MacDonald took control of
Duntulm Castle from the MacLeod's after a
series of battles.
1581 - Neil Mac Angus MacLeod, of the
Assynt/Lewis branch of Clan MacLeod, was
beheaded on the Maiden in Edinburgh for
murdering his brother and nephew.
1601 - the Government forced peace between
the MacDonald's and MacLeod's of Skye, with the
threat of beheadings making sure they ended
their fueds.
1651 - over 500 MacLeod's are said to have
been killed fighting for the Royalists at the
Battle of
Worcester, last battle of the English Civil
War. Around 16,000 men fought for Charles II
against 30,000 men fighting for Oliver
Cromwell. Around 1,000 men of Clan MacLeod are
said to have taken part in the battle. Some
that were captured were transported to America
for slavery. Charles II fled to safety in
France.
1739 - MacLeod's of Dunvegan and MacDonald's
of Sleat were accused of kidnapping 96 of their
own people, men, women and children, in an
attempt to sell them as slaves. The ship
carrying the people to America was damaged off
the coast of Northern Ireland, with all
passengers being rescued when the ship docked
for repairs.
1746 - Clan MacLeod and Clan MacDonald of
Skye both supported the Government in the 45
Jacobite Rebellion. Many other Clan MacLeod and
Donald, from other areas, fought with the
Jacobite's at the Battle of
Culloden.
Many Clans that fought on the Jacobite side
in the 1745 rebellion had their homes destroyed
or sold, cattle taken, some were forced to
emigrate.
Clans supporting the Government, retained
their Castles, Land, Titles and Wealth.
Late 1700s - 1840s - Dunvegan Castle was
extended into the Baronial Style seen
today.
1933 - Dunvegan Castle was opened to the
public to help pay for repairs.
2000 - John MacLeod, 29th chief, attempted
to sell off land that contained the Black
Cuillin Mountains for £10million so he
could use the money to repair the Castle.
Public outrage led to the sale being
withdrawn.
2007 - John MacLeod, 29th chief, died
leaving £15 million in his will, leading
to people wondering why he never used that
money for repairs.
John MacLeod, 29th Chief, was buried at St
Mary's Church ruin, at Dunvegan Village, the
6th Clan Chief to be buried there.
Today - son of the late John MacLeod,
Hugh Magnus
MacLeod, owns the Castle and Estate.
|
