Caisteal Maol facts for kids
Caisteal Maol is a ruined castle found near the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Its name comes from Gaelic words meaning 'bare castle'. People also call it Castle Moil, Castle Maol, Dun Akyn, Dunakin Castle, Dun Haakon, and Castle Dunakin.
This old castle sits right by the harbour. It used to guard the narrow water passage called the Sound of Kyle Akin. This passage is between Skye and the Scottish mainland. All ships had to pass through here or face a much stormier journey.
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History of Caisteal Maol
Caisteal Maol was once an important home for the Clan Mackinnon. The castle you see today was built in the 1400s or early 1500s. But stories say it's much older than that!
The Legend of Saucy Mary
One old story tells of a Norse princess nicknamed 'Saucy Mary'. Around the year 900, she married Findanus, the fourth chief of the MacKinnon clan. Together, they supposedly stretched a huge chain across the Sound of Kyle Akin. They would then charge a fee to any ship that wanted to pass!
The legend says that Princess Mary is buried on a mountain on Skye called Beinn na Caillich. Her face is said to be turned towards Norway.
A Link to Norway
Even if the 'Saucy Mary' story isn't completely true, there's a good reason to think the castle has a link to Norway. In 1263, King Haakon IV of Norway gathered his fleet of longships here. He was preparing for the Battle of Largs. This battle ended Norway's control over the Scottish islands.
The village name, Kyleakin, means 'Haakon's kyle' (or Haakon's strait). Old documents also call the castle Dunakin, which means 'Dun-Haakon'. These names strongly suggest a connection to Norway.
Later Years of the Castle
The castle we see today was built in the late 1400s or early 1500s. This has been confirmed by old records and scientific dating. In 1513, important clan leaders met here. They agreed to support Donald MacDonald as the Lord of the Isles. The last person to live in the castle was Neill MacKinnon, around the year 1601.
What the Castle Looks Like Now
Caisteal Maol stands on a piece of land above the village of Kyleakin. It faces the village of Kyle of Lochalsh across the water. It was a simple, rectangular building with three floors.
The lowest level, or basement, is now filled with rocks and other debris. People believe the kitchen was once located there. Visitors today enter on the main floor. This is where the dining area for guests would have been. Stairs would have led up to the private rooms above.
The Castle Today
Today, the castle is mostly a ruin. Parts of it fell away during storms in 1949 and 1989. The remaining parts have been made safe to stop them from falling apart more. No digging has been done at the ruins, and none is planned. In 2018, a lightning strike damaged part of the ruins, but they have since been made stable again.
