Tarbert Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tarbert Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Tarbert, Kintyre, Scotland | |
Tarbert Castle
|
|
 Tarbert Castle
|
|
| Coordinates | 55°51′49″N 5°24′31″W / 55.863611°N 5.408611°W |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruin |
Tarbert Castle is a cool old castle found in Tarbert, Kintyre, Scotland. It sits right on the southern shore of East Loch Tarbert. This castle was super important a long time ago, acting as a strong base for kings during the Middle Ages. It was one of three castles in the Tarbert area.
The castle looks out over the harbour, which was a very important spot for ships. Even though parts of it are much older, the main tower you can still see today was built around 1494. This was when King James IV visited the Western Highlands.
Contents
The Castle's Long History
Tarbert Castle has a really long and interesting past, going back over a thousand years!
Early Days and Attacks
The area where Tarbert Castle stands saw action very early on. In 712, the place was burned by King Selbach mac Ferchair. Then, in 731, his son, Dúngal mac Selbaig, did the same thing. This shows that Tarbert was an important place even before the castle was built.
Building a Stronghold
In 1292, King Edward II of England gave control of the castle to the Scottish King John Balliol. A basic fort was built in Tarbert during the 1200s. It was made much stronger in the 1320s by Robert the Bruce. He added an outer wall and towers. This was to protect it from powerful leaders called the Lords of the Isles, who ruled many islands and parts of the west coast.
Later, in the 1500s, a tall tower house was added. This tower is the most famous part of the castle ruins you can see today. The castle sits high up, giving amazing views of Loch Fyne and even further out to the Firth of Clyde.
Battles and Changes
Tarbert Castle was involved in some important events. In 1494, James IV of Scotland captured it from John MacDonald of Islay, who was a powerful Lord of the Isles. King James IV did this as part of his plan to reduce the power of these lords.
The castle saw more action in 1687. A man named Walter Campbell of Skipness took control of it. He was helping Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, who was supporting a rebellion in England.
Tarbert Castle Today
Today, only a few walls of Tarbert Castle are still standing. But even as ruins, the castle still offers an amazing view of the water. It's easy to see why it was such an important spot for defence.
The castle is now owned by the local community. It's part of a special Heritage Park that volunteers help to look after. You can visit their website to learn more!
Who Looked After the Castle?
Important people called Constables were in charge of Tarbert Castle. Here are a couple of them:
- John de Lany in 1326
- Charles MacAlister in 1481
