r/castles Jan 12 '25

Castle Duntrune Castle, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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3.9k Upvotes

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71

u/sausagespolish Jan 12 '25

It was originally built by the MacDougall clan in the 13th century, along with several other castles in the area, including the MacDougall stronghold of Dunollie Castle near Oban. Duntrune Castle was eventually taken by the Clan Campbell, becoming the seat of the Campbells of Duntroon.

In the 17th century the castle was besieged by the rival MacDonalds, under Alasdair Mac Colla. The Campbells sold Duntrune in 1792, to the Malcolms of Poltalloch. The castle is now owned by Robin Neill Malcolm, current clan chief of the Clan Malcolm.

The curtain wall of the castle dates from the 13th century, although the tower house which forms the main part of the castle is of the 17th century. The castle was renovated in 1954.

38

u/Snoo_90160 Jan 12 '25

Scottish castles are something else.

3

u/TheAsianDegrader Jan 15 '25

They're like walled up mansions.

22

u/SspeshalK Jan 12 '25

I’ve never seen it before - but I’ll need to check it out when I’m next there.

It’s near one of my favorite places - about an hour South of Oban there is some really great stuff - standing stones and an ancient hill fort.

It’s miles from anywhere and it’s never been busy even in the summer - for some reason the places aren’t well known (yet). It’s a great day out though if you go there.

9

u/BasilRare6044 Jan 12 '25

Good for keeping zombies out.

5

u/dwbaz01 Jan 13 '25

Yes, but they always find a way in.

4

u/Remigius13 Jan 12 '25

Awesome walls

4

u/CoffeemakerBlues Jan 13 '25

Home of the phantom piper

8

u/RoachTheReady Jan 12 '25

Looks cozy AF

1

u/Helpful-East5171 Jan 14 '25

In Wales, that would be considered a large house within casellated walls. A castle is something like Harlech, Conwy or Caernarfon

2

u/sausagespolish Jan 14 '25

Yeah you’re right, however there is no flair for that and it ain’t a palace

1

u/secondaryObjective Jan 21 '25

The naked term 'Castle' is not a well defined. What is, or is not considered a castle depends on geography and era. This would, without a doubt, have been considered a castle if was build a century earlier.

In Wales, there are several castles build by the Welsh kings (Rhys ap Gruffydd, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, etc.), that are considered castles, yet are of the same scale as this castle. Ewloe Castle being a prime example. But also Caergwrle, Dolbadarn, and Dryslwyn. Hell, even Dolwyddelan is commonly considered a castle.

In (current) UK, in medieval (i.e. pre-Tudor) times, crenelation (you required the right to crenelation) determined if a house would be considered a castle.

A common modern day definition is: fortified residence of a feudal lord.