Clan Rising
Skipness Castle today

Scotland · Ruin

Skipness Castle

Skipness Castle is a medieval tower-house and curtain-wall complex on the east side of the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland, near the village of Skipness. The stone keep and adjoining ranges date from the 13th century with later additions; the site was abandoned in the 17th century and is a scheduled monument alongside nearby Kilbrannan Chapel.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1560

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1560

What Skipness Castle looked like in its prime.

A tall, rectangular stone tower house with a battlemented parapet stands attached to a low, long curtain wall that contains a large arched opening. Walls are built of rough grey masonry with some larger red-dressed corner stones; narrow vertical slit windows punctuate the tower faces. The curtain wall top is turf-covered in places. The group sits on a flat grassy foreshore overlooking sea and distant hills, with trees framing views in the foreground.

Its story

The story of Skipness Castle.

Skipness Castle, on the east side of the Kintyre peninsula near the village of Skipness, was built in the early 13th century by Clan MacSween. Further fortifications and additions followed through the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries, producing the stone keep and curtain-wall complex whose remains stand today.

In 1511 Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, granted Skipness to his younger son, also Archibald Campbell. The castle was abandoned in the 17th century, and together with the nearby Kilbrannan Chapel it is now a scheduled monument.

Step inside

5 places to explore in 1560.

The record describes 5 distinct spots at Skipness 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.

Exterior approach from lane and lawnWest face of the tower (close)Arched entrance through the curtain wallTop of the curtain wall (turf-covered)Seaward view from the east shore

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Skipness Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1560, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Whose castle

Clans who held Skipness Castle.

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

  • MacSween

    Built by Clan MacSween in the early 13th century.

  • Campbell

    Granted in 1511 by the 2nd Earl of Argyll to his younger son, Archibald Campbell.

Questions about Skipness Castle

What is the history of Skipness Castle?

Skipness Castle was built in the early 13th century by Clan MacSween. Further fortifications and additions followed through the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries. In 1511, Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, granted Skipness to his younger son, Archibald Campbell. The castle was abandoned in the 17th century and is now a scheduled monument with nearby Kilbrannan Chapel.

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

Skipness Castle was built as a fortified castle by Clan MacSween in the early 13th century. Its stone keep and curtain-wall complex was strengthened and extended through the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries. The castle was abandoned in the 17th century, and its surviving remains are now a scheduled monument alongside nearby Kilbrannan Chapel.

Who owns Skipness Castle now?

Skipness Castle is owned by Clan Sweeney. It is a scheduled monument, a designation held since 2013. The castle stands with nearby Kilbrannan Chapel as part of the protected historic site.

Where is Skipness Castle?

Skipness Castle is on the east side of the Kintyre peninsula, near the village of Skipness. It is in Argyll and Bute. The castle stands on a flat grassy foreshore overlooking the sea and distant hills.

When was Skipness Castle built?

Skipness Castle was built in the early 13th century, with later additions and fortifications made through the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries. The site's first-raised year is not recorded, so no more precise construction year is available.

Was Skipness Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Skipness Castle was besieged in 1646 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms by forces commanded by Alasdair Mac Colla. During the siege, Alasdair's brother, Gilleasbuig Mac Colla, was killed in August 1646. The supplied account does not state whether the castle fell during the siege; it records that the castle was abandoned in the 17th century.

Which family or clan held Skipness Castle?

Skipness Castle was built by Clan MacSween in the early 13th century. In 1511, Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, granted it to his younger son, Archibald Campbell. These are the family and clan connections identified for the castle.

What did Skipness Castle look like in its prime?

Skipness Castle was a tall, rectangular stone tower house attached to a low, long curtain wall with a large arched opening. Rough grey masonry and larger red-dressed corner stones form the walls, while narrow vertical slit windows punctuate the tower. The battlemented parapet and parts of the curtain-wall top were turf-covered, overlooking the sea and distant hills.

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

Skipness Castle is a ruin today. The surviving remains include the stone keep, the adjoining ranges and the curtain wall. The complex was abandoned in the 17th century, after fortifications and additions had been made through the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries.

More castles of Scotland

Pitfour Castle, ScotlandPitfour CastleAikwood Tower, ScotlandAikwood TowerSaltoun Hall, ScotlandSaltoun Hall
All castles of Scotland · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.