Castles · Scottish Highlands
Dunvegan Castle
Also known as: Caisteal Dhùn Bheagain
Dunvegan Castle — castle in Duirinish, Highland, Scotland, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
About
Dunvegan Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1220. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Owned by Clan MacLeod. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in Duirinish, Highland, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 57.4485°, -6.5900°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Dunvegan Castle (Caisteal Dhùn Bheagain) is located 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north of Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, off the west coast of Scotland. It is the seat of the MacLeod of MacLeod, chief of the Clan MacLeod. Probably a fortified site from the earliest times, the castle was first built in the 13th century and developed piecemeal over the centuries. In the 19th century the whole castle was remodelled in a mock-medieval style.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Dunvegan Castle (Caisteal Dhùn Bheagain) is located 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north of Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, off the west coast of Scotland. It is the seat of the MacLeod of MacLeod, chief of the Clan MacLeod. Probably a fortified site from the earliest times, the castle was first built in the 13th century and developed piecemeal over the centuries. In the 19th century the whole castle was remodelled in a mock-medieval style. The castle is built on an elevated rock overlooking an inlet on the eastern shore of Loch Dunvegan, a sea loch.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The promontory was enclosed by a curtain wall in the 13th century, and a four-storey tower house was built in the late 14th century. This tower was similar in style to contemporary structures at Kisimul Castle and Caisteal Maol.
Architecture
Dunvegan Castle occupies the summit of a rock some 50 ft above sea level, which projects on to the eastern shore of a north-facing inlet or bay. On the eastern, landward side of the site is a partly natural ditch around 18 ft deep.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 57.4485, -6.5900
- District
- Highland
- Postcode
- IV55 8WE
- Parliamentary constituency
- Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
- Phone
- +44 1470 521206
- Established
- 1220
- Official site
- www.dunvegancastle.com
Sources
- wikidata: Q1266330 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Dunvegan Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Dunvegan Castle - entrance.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Dunvegan Castle?
- Dunvegan Castle is in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (postcode IV55 8WE).
- When was Dunvegan Castle built?
- Built or established in 1220.
- Who owns Dunvegan Castle?
- Dunvegan Castle is owned by Clan MacLeod.
- Is Dunvegan Castle a listed building?
- Dunvegan Castle is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Does Dunvegan Castle charge admission?
- Dunvegan Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Dunvegan Castle?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode IV55 8WE. It sits within the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire parliamentary constituency.