Achanduin Castle

Achanduin Castle stands on a limestone ridge on the north-west coast of Lismore, an island in Loch Linnhe. The ruins date from about 1290 and overlook Bernera Island. The remains include parts of the north-east and north-west walls, still standing up to 6.7 metres high. The castle once enclosed a small courtyard with buildings on either side. Excavations in 1970 and 1971 found two doorways leading from the courtyard into the north-west range. The castle’s history is tied to the MacDougalls, who built it around 1290. Recent research disproves the older idea that the Bishop of Argyll constructed it. The first written record of the castle appears in a land grant from 1304. The MacDougalls lost most of their lands in 1308 but may have kept Lismore. By the 15th century, the Bishops of Argyll briefly occupied the castle. Visitors find a quiet ruin with standing walls and collapsed sections. The site is open and windswept, with views of Loch Linnhe. Excavations uncovered traces of an earlier structure and prehistoric stonework. The remains show where buildings once stood around the courtyard. The island’s history is visible in the ruins and the surrounding landscape.