Dunyvaig Castle

Dunyvaig Castle, Argyll And Bute
Photo © Alasdair MacNeill, 7June 2008

Dunyvaig Castle, Argyll And Bute
Photo © Chris Heaton, 18 September 2002

Dunyvaig Castle, Argyll And Bute
Photo © Tom Richardson, 6 September 2008

Dunyvaig Castle, (Scottish Gaelic: Dun Naomhaig, Anglicised Fort of the galleys, also known as Dunnyveg is located on the south side of Islay, upon the shore of Lagavulin Bay, 4km from Port Ellen.

The castle was once a naval base of the Lord of the Isles, chiefs of Clan Donald. It was held by the chiefs of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg. The castle was forfeited in 1493 and then passed to the MacIans of Ardnamurchan. Afterwards the castle was leased to the MacDonalds, then the Campbells and back to the MacDonalds. In the seventeenth century the castle was seized by the Covenanters and passed into the hands of the Campbells of Cawdor, who held it until 1677, when Sir Hugh Campbell destroyed the castle and moved to Islay House.

Today all that remains of the castle are mainly the ruins of the sixteenth century castle, although the site includes a thirteenth century courtyard, and a fifteenth century keep.