Castle UK Blog September 2011 - A Monthly Page for Page Updates and News on Castles in England Scotland and Wales

CastleUK Blog 2011

Castle UK Blog September 2011 Page A place where I can record and then archive my monthly updates and what's new in our hunt for castles UK.

Of this months palace and castles, are from Argyllshire, Moray and Nairnshire.

In August, there's nothing much to say, only that we've put back the Hastings trip a month. Mighty castle update this month, go over the water to Lochleven and you walk in the footsteps of 2 Scottish greats, King Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots, well they don't come any bigger. Brodie is just wow, I've been a castle but now I'm all grown up, Cawdor is a magnificent big bad castle on the outside but very nice on the inside. Kilravock is and looks the part, it's had a bit of a past but the castle is now at peace.
It's just been work, in the garden, going out for a beer and doing the website. Still I've got tons of castles to put on the site before I run out and for the first time ever I've put my monthly castle update, wallpaper, the blog on the website and sent out blog/update email before the end of the month.
Happy Bank Holidays, the weather's looking good, have fun, Chris.

For more information, click on the pictures.

Lochleven Castle, OS 58/NO 137-018 Kinross-shire Scotland, is this months wallpaper.
The picture was taken in September 2010, on the Inverness/Culloden monster 6 day castle/battle hunt and the view of the castle was taken from the boat on the way across the loch to the island. It's a great way to go hunting and one big tick in the best way to see a castle box. The site is owned by Historic Scotland and is open daily, April to September 9:30-5:30pm, October 9:30-4:30pm.

Brodie Castle, OS 27/NH 979-578 Moray Scotland.
Was originally a mid 15th century L-plan tower house, founded by the Brodies. With a main block of four storeys and a garret, its basement of five chambers and the first floor hall are both vaulted. In the mid 16th century, the addition of a south-west tower with a circular stair-turret corbelled-out in the re-entrant angle, made the castle Z-plan.
The site is owned by The National Trust for Scotland and offers holiday accommodation. The castle is open daily, April 11:00-4:30pm, July and August 11:00-5:00pm, Sunday to Thursday, May, June, September and October 11:00-4:30pm. Great looking castle, didn't take the tour, the beer shop was calling.

Cawdor Castle, OS 27/NH 847-499 Nairnshire Scotland.
Is a late 14th century stone rectangular tower house, founded by the Thanes of Calder. Of four storeys and a garret, the basement and third floor are vaulted and the entrance was originally on the first floor. The parapet, turrets and cap-house were added in the mid 15th century and the large iron yett that defends the entrance gateway is from the 1456 slighting of Lochindorb Castle.
The site is owned by Cawdor Castle Ltd and offers holiday accommodation. The castle is open daily, May to September 10:00-5:30pm. One of the most magnificent and well preserved castles in Scotland, it's just a must.

Constabulary Garden, OS 27/NH 885-565 Nairnshire Scotland.
Was originally a mid to late 12th century earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by William the Lion. Standing against the River Nairn near the Brochar's Brae ford, the castle with its central keep was defended by timber ramparts and ditches to the north and west. Destroyed in the 16th century, the only trace of the castle is a possible cellar in an office of the Cawdor Estates.
On the site are the Cawdor Estates offices and the view from the road is restricted. The site took a bit of finding but there's nothing to see from Castle Lane, looking at the OS map there may be a view from the road bridge. The trouble is when you look for nothing, you'll see nothing but next time I'll give it a go!

Kilravock Castle, OS 27/NH 814-494 Nairnshire Scotland.
Was originally a mid 15th century stone rectangular tower house and courtyard fortress, founded by the Roses of Kilravock. Of five storeys and a garret, the parapet is flanked on the angles by open rounds and a square caphouse. Built under licence granted by John, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross, in the mid 16th century a rectangular four storey mansion house was added. The house was enlarged in the 17th century and a square stair-wing was built in the south-west angle.
The site is owned by the Kilravock Castle Christian Trust and offers accommodation, functions, weddings and guided tours, May to September. Guided tours of the castle are daily at 9:30am and 2:30pm on Wednesday, you must phone the castle first. Best tour of the hunt here, you need to take it.

Skipness Castle, OS 62/NR 908-578 Argyllshire Scotland.
Was originally an early to mid 13th century stone rectangular two storey hall house, founded by Suibhne, founder of Clan MacSween or his son Dugald. Overlooking the Kilbrannan Sound to Arran and encased by a defensible earth and timber rampart, its detached chapel was dedicated to St Columba. In the early 14th century the MacDonalds of Islay and Kintyre founded the rectangular enclosure fortress, when incorporating the hall house and chapel within a high curtain wall.
The site is owned by Historic Scotland and the tower house is open daily in the summer, with the enclosure and chapel freely accessible in daylight hours.