Strome Castle

Strome Castle stands on a headland between Loch Carron and Loch Kishorn in the Scottish Highlands. The ruined fortress overlooks the water from Stromemore, 3.5 miles south-west of Lochcarron village. Built in the 15th century by Alexander MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, it once belonged to his son Celestine of Lochalsh. The castle later passed to Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, who held it until the early 17th century. In 1602 Kenneth Mackenzie besieged and destroyed the stronghold after a battle at Morar. The site now belongs to the National Trust for Scotland, which took it over in 1939. Visitors find a grassy courtyard surrounded by crumbling stone walls. A square tower still rises above the ruins, giving a sense of the castle’s original height. The remains show where the main buildings once stood, with views across the loch to the hills beyond. The castle lies on a quiet stretch of coast where the water reflects the surrounding mountains. A path leads from the car park near the shore up to the ruins, offering a short walk through bracken and heather. From the headland the loch stretches north and south, its surface often calm in the Highland light. The site is small but striking, a reminder of the power struggles that once shaped this part of Scotland.