Coeffin

Castle Coeffin stands on a narrow promontory on the north-west coast of Lismore, an island in Loch Linnhe off Scotland’s west coast. The ruin overlooks the water towards Glensanda and occupies ground once held by a Viking fortress. Its name may recall Caifen, a Danish prince whose sister’s ghost was said to linger until her bones were taken to Norway. Built in the 13th century by the MacDougalls of Lorn, the castle formed part of their lordship that included St Moluag’s Cathedral. The earliest written record appears in 1469–70 when it was granted to Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy. The ruins show a large oblong hall-house with walls up to 2.4 metres thick and an irregular bailey added later. The great hall measures about twenty by ten metres, and an external stair once connected the entrance in the north-east wall to the raised bailey. A second door opened directly to the sea on the south-west side, giving quick access to boats. Nearby, a tidal fish trap of unknown age sits in a small bay to the south-east of the castle. Beyond the main structure lie further remains. To the north-east are the ruins of a stone-walled fort, and old records mention a place called Castle Rachal in the same area. The Ordnance Gazetteer of 1892 describes it as a very ancient Scandinavian stronghold now covered in ivy. Together these traces show how the site was shaped by Viking raids, medieval lordship and later coastal use.