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Dunderave Castle
Near Inverary, Argyle, Scotland
Dunderave Castle, Loch Fyne, Argyll - geograph.org.uk - 47961.jpg
Dunderave Castle on the shores of Loch Fyne
Dunderave Castle is located in Scotland
Dunderave Castle
Dunderave Castle
Coordinates 56°14′35″N 4°59′53″W / 56.242973°N 4.998072°W / 56.242973; -4.998072
Type L-Plan Castle
Site history
Built c.1500
Built by MacNaughton clan

Dunderave Castle is an old and interesting castle in Scotland. It was built a long time ago, in the 1500s. This castle was the main home for a Scottish family called the MacNaughton clan. It is known as an L-plan castle because of its unique shape.

What is Dunderave Castle Like?

Loch Fyne and Dunderave Castle from above St Catherines
Dunderave Castle seen across Loch Fyne from a hill track above St Catherines

The castle sits on a small piece of land that sticks out into Loch Fyne. This is a long, narrow lake in Argyll, Scotland. It is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) north-east of a town called Inveraray.

Dunderave Castle is still used as a home today. The castle you see now was built after an earlier castle was destroyed. You can still see parts of the old castle. There are also remains of ancient island homes, called crannógs, in a small lake nearby called Dubh Loch.

What Does the Name Dunderave Mean?

The name Dunderave comes from an old Scottish language called Gaelic. The MacNaughton family was linked to "Dunderave" as early as 1473. This means the name likely moved with the family from the Dubh Loch area.

People think the name might mean "The Knoll on the Promontory." A knoll is a small hill, and a promontory is land sticking out into water. Another idea is that it means "The Castle of Two Oars." This second meaning might suggest that there was a ferry service close to the castle long ago.

When Was Dunderave Castle Restored?

The castle was given a big makeover and fixed up in 1911. A famous architect named Sir Robert Lorimer led this work. He also redesigned the gardens around the castle at the same time.

Dunderave Castle - view of 1912 datestone
A stone from 1912 at Dunderave Castle
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