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Coeffin today

Scotland · Ruin

Coeffin

Coeffin Castle is a medieval ruin on the north-west promontory of Lismore island in Loch Linnhe, Argyll, Scotland. Built in the 13th century, it comprises an oblong hall-house with a later irregular bailey and has not been regularly occupied since the post-medieval period. The site sits on a rocky headland facing Glensanda across the loch.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1400

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1400

What Coeffin looked like in its prime.

Set on a rocky north-west promontory of Lismore, the castle in its prime is a compact stone complex: a single large oblong hall-house (about 20.3 by 10.4 m) with very thick masonry walls and an attached, irregularly shaped bailey defended by lower stone enclosures. The entrance lies in the north-east wall with an external stair linking down to the bailey; a second doorway opens to the sea on the south-west side. The site faces Loch Linnhe with open sea views to Glensanda.

Its story

The story of Coeffin.

Castle Coeffin stands on a promontory on the north-west coast of Lismore in Loch Linnhe, facing Glensanda across the water, the island that was also home to Moluag's Cathedral, seat of the Bishop of Argyll. Built in the 13th century, the castle comprises an oblong hall-house with a later, irregular bailey.

The castle's first written record comes in 1469–70, when it was granted to Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy by Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll. It has not been regularly occupied since the post-medieval period, and survives as a ruin on its rocky headland.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1400.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Coeffin, including 1 interior: great hall interior. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Promontory approach from the north-west shoreGreat hall interiorIrregular bailey courtyardNorth-east entrance and external stairSouth-west sea access doorTidal fish-trap in the south-east bayRemains of the stone-walled fort to the north-east

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Whose castle

Clans who held Coeffin.

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

  • Campbell

    Granted to Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy by Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll, in 1469–70, the castle's first written record.

From the archive

Coeffin on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Fig. 71. — Castle Coeffin. Plan., Coeffin

Fig. 71. — Castle Coeffin. Plan.

1889 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 3 (1889)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Coeffin.

Glenfinnan Viaduct, ScotlandBridgeGlenfinnan Viaduct38 km away

Questions about Coeffin

What is the history of Coeffin?

Coeffin was built in the 13th century, probably by the MacDougalls of Lorn, on the site of a Viking fortress. Lismore was an important place within their lordship because it was home to St Moluag’s Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of Argyll. The first written evidence dates from 1469–70, when it was granted to Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy.

What is inside Coeffin?

Inside Coeffin is a great hall within the oblong hall-house. The hall is an irregular rectangle measuring about 20.3 by 10.4 metres, while the later bailey forms an irregular courtyard beside it. An external stair probably linked the north-east entrance to the bailey, and a second door gave access to the sea.

Where is Coeffin?

Coeffin is on the north-west promontory of Lismore island in Loch Linnhe, in Argyll and Bute. It stands on a rocky headland facing Glensanda across the water. The castle is on the island’s north-west coast, with open views across Loch Linnhe and towards the sea.

When was Coeffin built?

Coeffin was built in the 13th century. The castle comprises an oblong hall-house with a later, irregular bailey, showing that the site developed in phases rather than being completed as a single structure. Its first written record dates from 1469–70.

Which family or clan held Coeffin?

Coeffin was held by the Campbells from 1469–70, when it was granted to Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy by Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll. This grant is also the castle’s first written record. It has not been regularly occupied since the post-medieval period.

What did Coeffin look like in its prime?

In its prime, Coeffin was a compact stone complex on a rocky promontory. Its main building was a single large oblong hall-house, about 20.3 by 10.4 metres, with very thick masonry walls and an attached irregular bailey. The north-east entrance had an external stair, while a south-west doorway opened towards the sea.

Is Coeffin still standing or is it a ruin?

Coeffin survives as a ruin. The remains include the oblong hall-house, its thick masonry walls, the later irregular bailey and lower stone enclosures. Other surviving features include the north-east entrance and stair, the south-west sea-access door, a tidal fish-trap in the south-east bay and a stone-walled fort to the north-east.

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