Kilberry Castle

Kilberry Castle stands on the shores of the Sound of Jura in South Knapdale, Argyll and Bute. A Category B listed country house, it was built at the end of the fifteenth century and later owned by the MacMurachies under the Lords of the Isles. The Earls of Argyll followed, then the Campbells of Kilberry took up residence in the early sixteenth century. During the civil war the castle was besieged by royalist forces between 1643 and 1645. In 1733 Dugald Campbell, 6th of Kilberry, built the Campbell mausoleum on the estate. The castle was accidentally burned down in 1772 or 1773 and remained occupied without proper restoration until 1844. John Campbell, 5th of Knockbury and 9th of Kilberry, commissioned its rebuilding that year with architect David Bryce. Further extensions were added in 1873 under Charles Kinnear of Edinburgh, executed by builder Mr Harris of St Andrew’s. After Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell’s death in 1928, the estate passed to his daughter Marion Campbell, who later became a noted archaeologist. She regained possession of the Kilberry Estate when she turned eighteen. Today the castle and other historic buildings on the estate are undergoing restoration expected to finish by 2027. Once complete, the castle will be reinstated as a private residence for its current family owners. The Sound of Jura provides a dramatic backdrop to the grey stone walls and slate roofs. Inside, original features blend with later Victorian additions, while the Campbell mausoleum remains a quiet witness to the family’s long history. The surrounding estate includes woodlands and farmland that stretch towards the water’s edge.