Scotland · Restored
Duntrune Castle
Duntrune Castle is a medieval castle on the north shore of Loch Crinan in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Its surviving fabric includes a 13th-century curtain wall and a 17th-century tower house that forms the main part of the site; it remains continuously occupied and is a Category B listed building.
Its prime
1650
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1650
What Duntrune Castle looked like in its prime.
A compact medieval complex sited at the waterline of Loch Crinan: a 13th-century stone curtain wall encloses the site, and the main volume is a 17th-century tower house rising above that wall. The castle sits on the north side of the loch, facing the village of Crinan, with stone gateposts marking the entrance. The masonry is traditional Scottish stone; rooflines of the tower house and the curtain wall's outline define a tight, vertically oriented silhouette at the shore.
Its story
The story of Duntrune Castle.
A MacDougall Castle on Loch Crinan
Duntrune was built by the MacDougalls in the 13th century, one of several castles the clan raised in the area alongside their stronghold of Dunollie near Oban. Standing on the north shore of Loch Crinan, across the water from the village of Crinan, it is thought to be the oldest continuously occupied castle on mainland Scotland. Its 13th-century curtain wall still encloses the 17th-century tower house that forms the main part of the castle.
The Campbells and Alasdair Mac Colla's Siege
The castle was eventually taken by Clan Campbell and became the seat of the Campbells of Duntroon. In the 17th century it was besieged by the Campbells' rivals the MacDonalds, under Alasdair Mac Colla. The Campbells held Duntrune until 1792, when they sold it to the Malcolms of Poltalloch.
The Malcolms of Poltalloch
The castle has remained with that family since: it was renovated in 1954, and is now owned by Robin Neill Malcolm, chief of Clan Malcolm. It has been a category B listed building since 1971. The castle's name travelled far beyond Argyll — Duntroon in the Australian Capital Territory is named after it — and the gateposts of Skyfall lodge, James Bond's childhood home in the film of that name, were modelled on Duntrune's.
Step inside
5 places to explore in 1650.
The record describes 5 distinct spots at Duntrune Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Build Your Own Castle
Recreate Duntrune Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1650, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
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Clans who held Duntrune Castle.
The families that held Duntrune Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.
Built by Clan MacDougall in the 13th century, alongside their stronghold of Dunollie.
Seat of the Campbells of Duntroon until sold in 1792.
Held by the Malcolms of Poltalloch since 1792; the current owner is chief of Clan Malcolm.
