Loch Gorm Castle

Loch Gorm Castle stands on Eilean Mòr, a large island in the middle of Loch Gorm on Islay in Argyll and Bute. Built in the early 15th century, it was a stronghold for Clan Donald. The castle had a square plan with a round bastion at each corner. Today the ruins are heavily overgrown and reduced to low mounds. From the shore the island looks almost featureless. The overgrowth hides most of the remaining stonework. The castle’s history includes a brief occupation by Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean in 1578. He was soon driven out by the MacDonalds of Dunnyveg with help from Colin Campbell, the 6th Earl of Argyll. By 1586 the castle was already ruinous. In 1608 royal forces under Andrew Stuart, 3rd Lord Ochiltree demolished it. After repairs, Ranald MacDonald of Smerby commanded the garrison until surrendering to Sir John Campbell of Cawdor in January 1615. Sir James MacDonald retook the island in April 1615 and left a small force behind. Visitors reach the island by boat from the loch’s edge. The low ruins lie hidden beneath brambles and ferns. A few stretches of wall still show the original square layout and corner bastions. The surrounding water and woodland create a quiet, remote atmosphere. The castle’s turbulent past is recalled only by the scattered stones and the island’s name.