Duart Castle

Duart Castle dominates the Sound of Mull and it was in the 13th century that the Macleans realised the importance of this position and built the first part of the castle. These walls form part of the courtyard you see today. From that time until the 17th century, the Macleans lived at Duart, controlling the sea lanes around Mull, fighting among themselves, the Macdonalds and finally the Campbells.

Lachlan Cattanach, the 11th Chief, is best remembered as the Chief who left his wife, Margaret, on the Lady's Rock, hoping she would drown, as she had failed to produce an heir. However, she was rescued by a kinsman and returned to her brother, the Duke of Argyll. Lachlan himself was murdered in Edinburgh in 1527, by one of Margaret's cousins.

The Macleans were staunchly loyal to the Jacobite cause and fought with the Old Pretender in 1745, which cost them dearly in almost all respects. The castle was garrisoned by government forces after the '45 and burnt in 1756 when the garrison left.

Duart remained a ruin until it was brought back in 1911, by the 26th Chief, Sir Fitzroy Maclean. Sir Fitzroy, who had fought in the Crimea War, was over 70 when he restored the castle

Address:

Isle of Mull
Argyll and the Isle of Mull
PA

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