Thursday, October 25, 2012

Duntulm Castle

       On the north coast of the Trotternish peninsula of the Isle of Skye lie the ruins of Duntulm Castle. It was apparently built in the 14th and 15th centuries and was eventually abandoned in the 1730s. Since then it has slowly been falling apart and eroding away. In 1990 one tower collapsed into the sea. Some of the castle's stonework has been taken away and used in local building projects. All that remains are the ruins, and the sheep.
     As usual, interesting stories and legends are associated with this castle. For example: some say the castle was abandoned after the nursemaid accidentally dropped the baby of the clan chief from a castle window above the cliffs. As punishment the nursemaid was set adrift in a small boat in the North Atlantic. Another story speaks of Hugh MacDonald being imprisoned here in the dungeon where he was purposely starved to death, given only salted beef and no water. Some have said he became mad and tried to eat his own hands before he died. I don't know if these stories can be believed or not. They are interesting at the very least. The picture I took below tends to have a more quiet and peaceful feel to it.


    

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