Castles · Scottish Highlands
Saddell Castle
Saddell Castle — castle in Argyll and Bute, 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
About
Saddell Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Owned by Landmark Trust. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 55.5274°, -5.5046°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Saddell Castle is a historic 16th-century castle on the shore of the Kilbrannan Sound near Saddell, Kintyre, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The original castle existed in Somerled's time in the 12th century. The castle served as a bastion of the MacDonald family for several centuries and continues to be visited by MacDonald diaspora from around the world who return to Western Scotland and the Isles. Several MacDonald Lords have resided at Saddell over the centuries, including Alasdair Mor MacDonald, younger brother of Angus Mor MacDonald, Lord of the Isles in the 13th century.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Saddell Castle is a historic 16th-century castle on the shore of the Kilbrannan Sound near Saddell, Kintyre, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The original castle existed in Somerled's time in the 12th century. The castle served as a bastion of the MacDonald family for several centuries and continues to be visited by MacDonald diaspora from around the world who return to Western Scotland and the Isles. Several MacDonald Lords have resided at Saddell over the centuries, including Alasdair Mor MacDonald, younger brother of Angus Mor MacDonald, Lord of the Isles in the 13th century. Angus Og MacDonald once provided refuge to Robert the Bruce during the First War of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century before taking him on to Dunaverty Castle on the Mull of Kintyre.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The current castle, built by David Hamilton, Bishop of Argyll, between 1508 and 1512, was constructed from the stones of the ruined castle and Saddell Abbey. In 1556, Bishop James Hamilton gave the castle to James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran as payment for debts and taxes. Later, The Earl of Arran was forced to exchange it with the Chief of Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, James MacDonald for James' lands on the Isle of Arran. The castle then became one of several ancestral homes of the MacDonald family in Scotland. Saddell was captured and burnt in October 1558 by an English force led by Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex, Lord Deputy of Ireland, under orders of Queen Mary I of England in…
Visiting
A collection of Celtic Fairy tales compiled by Joseph Jacobs in 1892 contains a story (The Sprightly Tailor) that is set around Saddell Castle. According to the tale, a giant monster that struck the castle wall above the gate left the mark of his five great fingers there. It can also be seen in the music video for Wings' hit "Mull of Kintyre", filmed in Saddell Bay and featuring the Campbeltown Pipe Band marching along the beach.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.5274, -5.5046
- District
- Argyll and Bute
- Postcode
- PA28 6RA
- Parliamentary constituency
- Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
- Official site
- www.landmarktrust.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q168089 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Saddell Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Saddell Castle, 2012.JPG (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Saddell Castle?
- Saddell Castle is in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (postcode PA28 6RA).
- Who owns Saddell Castle?
- Saddell Castle is owned by Landmark Trust.
- Is Saddell Castle a listed building?
- Saddell Castle is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Does Saddell Castle charge admission?
- Saddell Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Saddell Castle?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode PA28 6RA. It sits within the Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber parliamentary constituency.