Kinlochaline Castle

Kinlochaline Castle stands on the Ardtornish estate in Morvern, Highland. It is a 15th-century tower house beside Loch Aline. The castle is also called Caisteal an Ime, meaning Castle of Butter. A local legend says a Lady of Clan MacInnes paid the builder with butter equal to the castle’s volume. The building is four storeys high with walls three metres thick. Its rare sandstone blocks were quarried nearby. The castle played a part in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. In 1644 it was burned during a siege led by Alasdair Mac Colla. Another attack came in 1679 when Archibald Campbell, the 9th Earl of Argyll, raided the site. By about 1690 the castle had been abandoned. Historic Scotland oversaw its reconstruction in the late 19th century. Today it serves as a private residence. Visitors approach along the shore of Loch Aline. The thick walls and small windows show its defensive purpose. Inside, the restored floors and staircases reveal its original layout. The surrounding woodland and water views add to the setting. The castle’s name in Gaelic can still be seen on local signs. Its history is visible in every stone.