Castle
Skipness Castle is a stunning 13th Century enclosure castle mostly built in around the 12th Century but modifed and added to at later dates.
The castle itself does not have a huge embankment or defensive moat but the sheer scope of view meant that it would be possible to see incoming vessels from long distances. It would be possible to see small ships for many miles and no doubt ones that would leave the coast of Arran.
The land which the castle is built on is very flat and embanked with large areas of grazing field afore. This would have been ideal for farming during these times and would have served the inhabitants well.
The curtain wall here is very thick, roughly around 4 feet and protects the tower. The castle by many examples is not the largest but it is in fantastic condition and you can climb the stairs up on to the roof of the castle, with the hall house below and marvel at the stunning views available from this fantastic location.
The castle, originally built by the MacSweens was soon claimed by the Lords of the Isles in around 1325 until foreiture somewhere between 1476 and 1493. Shortly after the castle was placed in the hands of the Earl of Argyll who in turn granted responsibility to his son Archibald in around 1511. The castle remained in the Campbell family through several generations until around 1867.
Despite owning an estate of a considerable size, maybe 15,000 acres, the Campbells were unable to maintain the financial upkeep of their assets including the wonderful Castle it was abandoned shortly after and in 1933 the castle was taken into State care and is now protected by Historic Scotland.
Like most of the castles in Kintyre and Argyll where public access is permitted there is no entry charge and it is open all year round for visitors.
Biliography.
The Argyll Book by Donald Omand
Clan Campbell Society of North America Website - view
