Inverlochy Castle facts for kids
Inverlochy Castle (which means "Castle at the mouth of the Lochy" in Scottish Gaelic) is an old castle ruin in Scotland. It's found near Fort William in the Highlands. This castle was built a very long time ago, in the 1200s. It's special because it still looks much like it did when it was first built. Two important battles happened near its walls. Today, Historic Environment Scotland looks after it.
Contents
The Castle's Story
Who Built Inverlochy Castle?
Inverlochy Castle was built around the years 1270 to 1280. A powerful leader named John "the Black" Comyn had it built. He was the chief of the Clan Comyn. Some people think it might have been built on an even older fort. This older place was used by the Picts, who were ancient people of Scotland. A historian named Hector Boece said it was once a "city" that was destroyed by Vikings.
Changes in Ownership
In 1306, Robert the Bruce became King of Scotland. The Comyn family were his rivals for the crown. Because of this, they lost their lands, and the castle was left empty for a while.
Later, in 1431, a big battle happened near the castle. It was called the first Battle of Inverlochy. Clansmen led by Alexander MacDonald fought against King James I's army. Alexander MacDonald's forces won this battle. After this, the Clan Cameron took control of the castle until 1501.
Royal Repairs and Another Battle
In 1505, the castle was partly ruined. King James IV gave it to Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly. The King wanted him to fix the castle. He wanted it to be used as a royal army base.
In 1645, the castle played a role in another big event. A royalist army, led by James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, stopped there. They were fighting against the Covenanters, who supported a different way of governing Scotland. This led to the second Battle of Inverlochy. On February 2, 1645, the royalists won this battle.
A Royal Visit
In the 1800s, a man named James Scarlett, 1st Baron Abinger bought the land. He built a large house nearby, which is now the Inverlochy Castle Hotel. Lord Abinger made some small improvements to the old castle. He fixed parts like the openings for archers and the top walls. This was done before Queen Victoria visited in 1873.
What Inverlochy Castle Looks Like Now
A Well-Preserved Ruin
Inverlochy Castle is now a ruin. But it's special because it hasn't changed much since it was built. It still looks very similar to how it did in the 1200s.
Location and Defenses
The castle sits on the south bank of the River Lochy. This was a very important spot. It was at the entrance to the Great Glen, a key route through the Scottish Highlands. The river protected one side of the castle. The other three sides had a ditch filled with water for defense.
Inverlochy is a castle of enceinte. This means its main defense was a strong outer wall. The castle has a simple square shape. It has a courtyard that is about 31 meters (102 feet) long and 27 meters (89 feet) wide. A thick wall, up to 2.7 meters (9 feet) wide and 7.6 meters (25 feet) high, surrounds this courtyard.
Towers and Entrances
There are round towers at each corner of the castle. The biggest one is called the Comyn Tower. It is about 6.1 meters (20 feet) across inside. This tower acted as the castle's main tower or "keep." The other towers are smaller, about 4.3 meters (14 feet) across. All four towers have stairways inside their thick walls.
The main entrance to the castle was on the south side. There was also a "water gate" facing the river on the north side. Both entrances had a portcullis, which was a heavy gate that could be lowered. The south entrance might have also had an inner gatehouse.
Today, the ruined castle is a protected historical site.
