Dunstafnage Castle lies near the town of Oban in Scotland.

Its impressive site overlooks what was probably the most important junction of sealanes on the western seaboard.

Built before 1275 by either Duncan or Ewen MacDougall, successive Lords of Lorn, Dunstaffnage was captured by Robert Bruce in 1309 and remained for some years in royal possession. In 1470 custody of the castle was vested in Colin Campbell, first Earl of Argyll, and subsequently in 1502 by the then Earl in his cousin, who became known as Captain of Dunstaffnage. Garrisoned by government forces during the '45, Dunstaffnage was the temporary prison of Flora MacDonald in 1746.

In 1810, the gatehouse, which had been the principal residence of the Captains, was gutted by fire, but the courtyard buildings remained in occupation until the end of that century. The hereditary Captain remains keeper of the castle.

The pictures below are made by Dave Caw, the webmaster of the website 'Caledonian Castles Hame Page', which was online until mid-2004. I placed these pictures here as a reminder of the great quality of that website. They will be removed whenever it goes back online.

Back to top.