Clan Rising
Carnasserie Castle today

Scotland · Ruin

Carnasserie Castle

Carnasserie Castle is a 16th-century Scottish tower house with an attached hall range near Kilmartin in Argyll, built for John Carswell in the 1560s. Largely blown up in the late 17th century and never rebuilt, its outer walls and ranges survive today as a scheduled monument in state care.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1572

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1572

What Carnasserie Castle looked like in its prime.

A five-storey rectangular tower house adjoins a longer three-storey hall range, both constructed of rough grey-brown rubble stone with visible coursing. The tower is topped by corbelled parapet walks on three sides with remnants of open rounds and a small cap-house over the stair; walls are pierced by narrow "double keyhole" gunloops and regular window openings. A projecting north-west stair-tower marks the entrance, and a low rubble wall encloses a courtyard to the south and west.

Its story

The story of Carnasserie Castle.

Carnasserie Castle was built by the reforming churchman John Carswell, Rector of Kilmartin, Chancellor of the Chapel Royal at Stirling, and later titular Bishop of the Isles. Construction began in 1565 with masons brought from Stirling; though notionally built for his patron, the Earl of Argyll, Carswell intended it as a personal residence. Over the entrance are the arms of the 5th Earl with the Gaelic motto DIA LE UA NDUIBHNE, "God be with O'Duine", invoking the semi-legendary ancestors of Clan Campbell.

On Carswell's death in 1572 the castle passed to the Earl of Argyll, and in 1643 it was sold to Donald Campbell of Auchinleck. During Argyll's Rising it was garrisoned for the earl under the command of Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry, 14th Hereditary Chief of Clan MacTavish; the support of Sir Duncan Campbell, 4th Baronet, and Lady Henrietta Lindsay, whose initials and the date 1681 are carved on an archway in the garden, for the uprising led to the castle's destruction, and it was never rebuilt.

Only slightly altered since, Carnasserie presents an unusually accurate picture of 16th-century architecture: a five-storey tower house joined to a three-storey hall house, with "double keyhole" gunloops and renaissance detailing, designed more for domestic than military purposes. In the 19th century the estate was sold to the Malcolms of Poltalloch, owners of nearby Duntrune Castle, and the ruin is now in state care as a scheduled monument.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1572.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Carnasserie Castle, including 4 interiors: great hall (hall house), tower drawing room, basement kitchen and cellars and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approachEntrance and north-west stair towerGreat hall (hall house)Tower drawing roomBasement kitchen and cellarsParapet walk and open roundsCap-house above the stairUpper bedchamberCourtyard garden and arched gatewayClose-up of gunloops and corbelling

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Whose castle

Clans who held Carnasserie Castle.

The families that held Carnasserie Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Campbell

    Passed to the Earl of Argyll on John Carswell's death in 1572; sold in 1643 to Donald Campbell of Auchinleck.

  • Malcolm

    The estate was sold in the 19th century to the Malcolms of Poltalloch.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Carnasserie Castle.

Inveraray Castle, ScotlandMuseumInveraray Castle27 km away

Questions about Carnasserie Castle

What is the history of Carnasserie Castle?

Carnasserie Castle was built in the 16th century as a personal residence for John Carswell, a reforming churchman and Rector of Kilmartin. Construction began in 1565 with masons brought from Stirling. It passed to the Earl of Argyll in 1572, was sold to Donald Campbell of Auchinleck in 1643, and was partly blown up during Argyll’s Rising before becoming a ruin.

What is inside Carnasserie Castle?

Inside Carnasserie Castle are the remains of a basement kitchen and cellars, a large hall, a tower drawing room and upper bedchambers. The drawing room retains its stone floor and large fireplace with carved stone decoration, while the kitchen has a large fireplace and water inlet. A broad stair connects the entrance with the hall, and another stair leads to the parapet walk.

Why was Carnasserie Castle built, and what was it used for?

Carnasserie Castle was built as a personal residence for John Carswell, although it was notionally built for his patron, the Earl of Argyll. Its unusual plan and Renaissance detailing were intended more for domestic than military purposes. The castle provided accommodation in a five-storey tower house joined to a three-storey hall house.

Where is Carnasserie Castle?

Carnasserie Castle is near Kilmartin in Argyll and Bute, around 2 kilometres north of Kilmartin. It stands in western Scotland, close to the head of Kilmartin Glen. The castle is on raised ground near a strategic pass.

When was Carnasserie Castle built?

Carnasserie Castle was begun in 1565 and belongs to the 16th century. Its prime year is given as 1572, the year John Carswell died and the castle passed to the Earl of Argyll. The supplied material does not record a separate first-raised year beyond the construction beginning in 1565.

Was Carnasserie Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Carnasserie Castle was attacked during Argyll’s Rising in 1685. It was garrisoned for the Earl of Argyll under Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry, then captured and partly blown up by a Royalist force commanded by MacLean of Torloisk. After its surrender under terms of peaceful capitulation, Dugald MacTavish was hanged near the castle gateway.

Which family or clan held Carnasserie Castle?

Carnasserie Castle was held by the Campbells and later by the Malcolms of Poltalloch. It passed to the Earl of Argyll after John Carswell’s death in 1572 and was sold in 1643 to Donald Campbell of Auchinleck. In the 19th century, the estate was sold to the Malcolms of Poltalloch.

What did Carnasserie Castle look like in its prime?

Carnasserie Castle was a Renaissance tower house and hall range built of rough grey-brown rubble stone. The five-storey rectangular tower adjoins a longer three-storey hall range, with corbelled parapet walks, open rounds and a small cap-house above the stair. Narrow double-keyhole gunloops, regular windows, a projecting north-west stair-tower and a courtyard wall complete its appearance.

Is Carnasserie Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Carnasserie Castle is a ruin, but its outer walls and ranges survive. It was partly blown up in the late 17th century during Argyll’s Rising and was never rebuilt. The castle has only ever been slightly altered since, so it presents an unusually accurate picture of 16th-century architecture.

Who built Carnasserie Castle?

Carnasserie Castle was built by John Carswell, the reforming churchman who was Rector of Kilmartin, Chancellor of the Chapel Royal at Stirling and later titular Bishop of the Isles. Construction began in 1565 with masons brought from Stirling. He intended the castle as his personal residence, although it was notionally built for the Earl of Argyll.

Can you visit Carnasserie Castle?

Carnasserie Castle is open to the public. It is a ruined castle in state care and is protected as a scheduled monument. The surviving tower house, hall range, courtyard garden and architectural details, including gunloops and corbelling, can be seen as part of the site.

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