Scotland trip, June 2005

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Craignethan Castle. Built in the 1530s by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart. He returned from abroad with a good knowledge of architecture and fortification, which he used to design Craignethan. This is the last great medieval castle to be built in Scotland. Unfortunately the castle didn't last long, as the castle was destroyed in 1579 due to the Hamiltons' loyalty to Mary Queen of Scots' cause.

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Bothwell Castle. This castle was started by Walter of Moray some time in the latter half of the 1200's. Due to invasion and seiges the original design was never completed, and what remains is largely the work of the Earls of Douglas in the years around 1400. The castle passed back and forth between Scot and English occupation. The impressive Donjon, the great round tower, was part of the original design and was completed, but it was destroyed in 1337 when the Scots retook the castle from the English. When the first Earl rebuilt the castle, he simply had a wall built across what remained of the donjon, rather than repairing the walls - turning it in to an awkward-looking halfmoon.

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Eileen Donan Castle. In the very beginning, St. Donan, a hermit, lived on this island. Eileen Donan is "Island of Donan" in Gaelic. There was once also a Pict fort here. The first castle was built by Alexander II in the 13th century, to protect against Viking raids. The castle was destriyed in 1719 during the first Jacobite rebellion. In 1912, Col John MacRae-Gilstrap decided to rebuilt the castle, which was his ancestral home. He attempted to build it exactly as it was before it was destroyed. With the possible exception of Castle Stalker, I think it may be the most photographed and recognizeable castle in Scotland.

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