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The image top is of the path from the car
park out to Dunstaffnage Castle, under a half
mile. The Visitor Centre is next to the Castle
on the right, and Chapel ruins about 100 yards
to the left in woodland.
The image second top is of the winding
stairs leading up into the Castle.
Dunstaffnage Castle is on a peninsular at
the entrance to Loch Etive, with water on three
sides.
Dunstaffnage Castle History
600s - Norway's Kings ruled the Northern and
Western Isles, and some of the West Coast of
Scotland. They appointed local families / Clans
to help rule their land.
1200s - the building of Dunstaffnage Castle
begins for the Lord of Lorn, Duncan MacDougall,
grandson of Somerled.
Somerled was
one of the last Norse warlords to control the
Western Isles and take part in battles on the
Scottish mainland.
Dunstaffnage Chapel is thought to have been
built around this time.
1240s - Duncan's son and heir Ewen portrayed
himself as King of the Isles.
1293 - Ewen's son Alexander was made the
first Sherriff of Argyll after helping King
Alexander III reduce Norse influence in
Argyll.
1200s late - the MacDougall's supported John
Balliol and John Comyn against Robert the Bruce
in the First War of
Scottish Independence.
1308 - Robert the Bruce defeated the
MacDougall's at the Battle of the
Pass of Brander, then took control of
Dunstaffnage Castle after a short seige. The
Castle was then run as a Royal Castle with
families in charge that were loyal to the
Kings.
1463 - keeper of the Castle, John Stewart of
Lorn, was stabbed while walking to Dunstaffnage
Chapel to marry his second wife. The assault
was by men of Alan MacDougall, who claimed they
were the rightfull owners of the Castle. John
Stewart is supposed to have married on his
death bed in the Castle.
His death led to the MacDougall's taking
control of the Castle at that time.
1468 - Alan MacDougall was killed at the
Battle of
Stalc, a battle between the MacDougall's
and Stewart's. John Stewart's son, Dugald
Stewart, was credited with killing Alan
MacDougall.
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