Eilean Donan Castle is located in the Highlands of Scotland near the village of Dornie. The castle sits on an island where Loch Long, Loch Duich and Loch Alsh meet and is connected to the mainland by a stone footbridge. With the beauty surrounding the castle, it is no wonder that Eilean Donan is one of the most photographed castles in the world.
One notable piece of the castle’s history, involves the Jacobites of 1719. The Jacobites of the time (those who wanted to restore the Scottish throne to the Scots) were trying to start a rebellion with help from Spain. 46 Spanish soldiers were stationed inside Eilean Donan. They had several barrels of gunpowder and they were waiting for weapons from Spain. The English learned of the gathering in the castle and 3 frigates were sent to crush the hopes of the Jacobites and their supporters. The Spanish soldiers were able to hold off a 3-day attack by the English frigates. The walls of the castle were said to be upwards of 14 feet thick. However, the English captain eventually ordered his men to storm the castle. The Spanish soldiers were defeated and the English used the gunpowder they’d found to blow up the castle.
For the next 192 years, the castle ruins lay untouched. In 1911, John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island. He worked for the next twenty years to restore the castle. Renovations were completed in 1932. In 1955, the castle was opened to the public.
Today, there is a visitors’ information centre, which opened in 1998. Tourists can pay a small fee ($8) to tour the castle and grounds, and to learn more about its history. Standing on the grounds of Eilean Donan Castle is simply breathtaking. No matter which way you look, you will see Highland hills, sometimes with mists surrounding the peaks and sometimes with bright sunshine and a glorious blue sky. There’s a reason this castle is so popular with photographers. Visit http://www.eileandonancastle.com/home.htm and see for yourself.