I am so glad it’s finally fall. My favorite season! Although we are still in the throes of what has been a long, hot, dry summer here in Virginia, there is promise on the horizon. There is a perceptible change in the light as the days begin to shorten. Mornings are cooler, and the trees are beginning to show a little color. I have to remind myself that it won’t be long before the heat finally yields, giving way to those beautiful, crisp, sweater-wearing days of autumn.
Anyway, I have been on a short two-week break from blogging, but today I am back and excited to share with you a very cool castle ruin.
This is Invergarry Castle, located about 7.5 miles southwest of Fort Augustus, close to the village of Invergarry in the Scottish Highlands.
Set on the grounds of nineteenth-century Glengarry Castle Hotel and overlooking Loch Oich on what is known as Creagan an Fhithich (The Raven’s Rock), the weathered seventeenth-century ruins of Invergarry Castle are an atmospheric reminder of a time long gone.
This ‘L’ Plan tower house was once the seat of the Chiefs of the MacDonnells of Glengarry, an influential branch of the Clan Donald (also known as the Clan Ronald). Historians believe it is at least the third structure to occupy Creagan an Fhithich. The castle we see today replaced a previous fortification, which was burned down in 1654 when Cromwell’s army invaded Scotland. The MacDonalds completed the current structure in 1665.
Unfortunately for the MacDonald clan, they did not remain in their shiny new castle for long. In 1692, and for the majority of the next thirty-nine years, Invergarry Castle found itself under the occupation of English troops. Eventually, the occupation ended, and in 1731, the clan reclaimed their home. I bet a bottle or two was passed around in celebration that night. Slàinte Mhath!
According to historical accounts, Prince Charles Edward Stuart (a.k.a. Bonnie Prince Charlie) visited Invergarry twice during the Jacobite Rising of 1745-46. Following the Battle of Culloden in 1746, both John MacDonell of Glengarry and his son were imprisoned, and the castle was burned yet again; this time by “Butcher” William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. Makes you wonder what sort of fella you’d have to be to earn a name like “Butcher,” eh?
In the years following The Jacobite Rising, Invergarry passed through the hands of various owners. Today, this once bustling and thriving seat of power resides quietly (if not a bit forlornly) within the boundaries of the Glengarry property. Rivalries, battles, victories, and defeats live on only in its memories now. Oh, if those old walls could talk.
I hope you enjoyed today’s post, my friends. As always, thank you for popping in to read my words. I appreciate you. 🙂
I’ll see you again soon.
Cheers,
Fascinating history… I keep envisioning scenes from Outlander! 😉
Outlander has really given us the gift of a ‘visual’ of what life at a castle would have been like. It’s fun to take that mental image to these castles and let the imagination fill in the gaps.
Yes amazing history.
I am a descendant from this great clan.
Greg Mcdonell
Living in nz.
If those walls could talk indeed! Love places like this.
Me too, Darlene. So much scope for the imagination.
Lovely! The ruins were blocked off when we were there, deemed too dangerous to get near, and awaiting shoring up. Evidence on the walls of floors, stairs, and windows is so evocative.
Our stay at Glengarry Castle Hotel was magical. In the fall when the stags were “roaring.”
As always, thanks for the history and pictures.
Even with the new beams in place it’s still pretty crumbly! It strikes me that little nook of the Highlands is overlooked by many tourists. There was absolutely no one around when we were there. Nice that you got to stay at the hotel!
It’s always a pleasure to learn more about Scotland!
XOXO RENI
And it’s always a pleasure to hear from you! 🙂
Nice write-up and fab pictures! Quite a new castle, then? 🙂
Thanks, Mike. Those new boards practically qualify as a renovation!
What a lovely ruin nestled amongst the green. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Thank you Wendy. Scotland is such an amazing country with so many beautiful buildings. I bet these walls could share many a tale as you say…
Glad you enjoyed it, Brigid. 🙂
We discovered Invergarry Castle completely by accident in June this year. Researching Scottish castles was high on my agenda, with castles in general a strong focal point for our trip. Our first day in Scotland was spent driving from Edinburgh to the highlands, to meet with family who KNEW I was looking for castles and had promised to take me to some. Their long-term favourite place to stay is Glengarry Castle Hotel, and as we turned into the driveway, I felt as if all my searching was over — there was Invergarry Castle, and nobody had even given me a hint of what was there.
I took as many photos as I could, from as many angles as I could. Staying at Glengarry Castle Hotel for several days with family was just the icing on the cake.
That is a great story! I’m glad you had such a special surprise. I bet your family loved seeing your reaction. 🙂 I love all castles, but I’m quite partial to the really ruined ones like Invergarry.
Thanks for sharing this post, Wendy. Again it was a pleasure to read! Take care and stay healthy!
XOXO Reni
Thank you so much, Reni. Hope you are continuing to stay healthy, too!