Skipness Castle and Chapel
Skipness Castle and Chapel gallery
Explore a ruin which features some of the oldest castle buildings in Scotland, then stroll to a well-preserved shoreside chapel.
Skipness Castle was begun in the early 1200s, probably by the MacSween family. It was acquired by the Stewart earls of Mentieth in 1262. It passed into the hands of the MacDonalds in 1325 and eventually on to the Campbell earls of Argyll.
The castle demonstrates the change in architectural form in Scottish castles between the 1200s and 1500s, as well as the effects of changing ownership in this time.
The MacSween castle consisted of a modest two-storey hall-house, along with a chapel, dedicated to St Columba. The remains of these buildings are harder to spot today, but they are among the oldest castle buildings in Scotland.
A new chapel was added by the subsequent owners, the MacDonalds. It's located by the shore, a short distance from the castle, and is surprisingly well-preserved.
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