Castle Tioram

Castle Tioram
Gaelic name Eilean Tioram
Meaning of name dry island[1]
Location
Castle Tioram
Eilean Tioram shown within Lochaber
OS grid reference NM662724
Physical geography
Island group Inner Hebrides
Area <2 ha
Highest elevation 10 metres (33 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country Scotland
Council area Highland
Demographics
Population 6[2]
Population rank 74= [3]
Largest settlement Castle Tioram
References [4][5]

Castle Tioram (pronounced "Chee-rum" from Scottish Gaelic "Caisteal Tioram" meaning "dry castle") is a ruined castle that sits on the tidal island Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It is located west of Acharacle, approximately 80 km (50 mi) from Fort William. Though hidden from the sea, the castle controls access to Loch Shiel. It is also known to the locals as "Dorlin castle".

The castle—a listed building and scheduled ancient monument[6]—appears to have originally been a principal stronghold of Clann Ruaidhrí.[7] The island the fortress sits upon is first recorded in a charter of Cairistíona Nic Ruaidhrí (fl. 1290–1318), daughter of Ailéan mac Ruaidhrí (died ×1296).[8] According to early modern tradition, the castle was erected by Ailéan's granddaughter, Áine Nic Ruaidhrí (fl. 1318–50) in the fourteenth century.[9] The castle served as the seat of the latter's Clan Donald descendants the next four hundred years.[10]

Castle Tioram is the traditional seat of Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald, a branch of Clan Donald. Castle Tioram was seized by Government forces around 1692 when Clan Chief Allan of Clanranald joined the Jacobite Court in France, despite having sworn allegiance to the British Crown. A small garrison was stationed in the castle until the Jacobite Uprising of 1715 when Allan recaptured and torched it, purportedly to keep it out of the hands of Hanoverian forces. It has been unoccupied since that time, although there are some accounts suggesting it was partially inhabited thereafter including storage of firearms from the De Tuillay in the 1745 Jacobite Uprising and Lady Grange's account of her kidnapping.

The castle is now in extremely poor condition and in 1998 was closed to the public at the request of Highland Council; a major structural collapse occurred at the north west curtain wall in 2000.

Controversial proposals to restore the castle by the new owners, Anta Estates, were announced in 1997 and received planning consent from Highland Council. This included the creation of a clan centre/museum, domestic apartments, and public access. However, Historic Scotland refused Scheduled Monument Consent—a decision upheld after a local public inquiry.[11]

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland holds a substantial archive of research information, drawings, and photographs lodged by the current owners.

The castle can be reached on foot across the tidal causeway, but there is no access to the interior because of the risk of falling masonry.

Eilean Tioram is one of 43 tidal islands that can be walked to from the mainland of England, Wales & Scotland and one of 17 that can be walked to from the Scottish mainland.[12]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Evans, Sandra "Eilean Tioram (The Dry Island) and Castle Tioram" Moidart.org.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  2. ↑ National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013) (pdf) Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland - Release 1C (Part Two). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland’s inhabited islands". Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  4. ↑ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  5. ↑ Ordnance Survey. Get-a-map (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure. Ordinance Survey. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Public Inquiry Report". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  7. ↑ Tabraham (2005) pp. 29, 111.
  8. ↑ Stell (2014) p. 273; Boardman, S (2006) p. 46; Fisher (2005) p. 91; Raven (2005) p. 63; McDonald (1997) pp. 189–190 n. 120.
  9. ↑ Stell (2014) pp. 273–274.
  10. ↑ Fisher (2005) p. 91.
  11. ↑ "Castle Tioram". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  12. ↑ Caton, Peter (2011) No Boat Required - Exploring Tidal Islands. Matador.

References

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Coordinates: 56°47′6″N 5°49′39″W / 56.78500°N 5.82750°W / 56.78500; -5.82750

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