Carnasserie Castle | Opening Hours and Visitors Info

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Visiting Carnasserie Castle

Carnasserie Castle stands its lonely vigil on a ridge above and west of the Kilmartin Burn, overlooking the head of Kilmartin valley. Although technically not a castle proper, this 16th-century Gatehouse is popular for day visits and free for visitors to view its fascinating external architecture.

Parking

Follow the signpost that directs visitors to Carnasserie Castle from the A816 to an amply sized car park next to the main road. You may then access the path to the castle through a narrow stile and floor the path that curves around the west side of the valley of Kilmartin Burn.

Price

Visitors may visit the castle all year round during reasonable daylight hours; however, the castle grounds are only open for external viewing at present.

Opening

Open year-round, visit at any reasonable time during daylight hours, but visitors may only view the castle from its exterior. Historic Environment Scotland is busy working on the castle interior to ensure that the public stays safe.

Location & Access

You may find Carnasserie Castle located roughly 2 kilometres (1 1/4m) north of Kilmartin in Argyll and Bute, Western Scotland. The castle is off the A816 at the connection with the B830, with a car park adjacent to the path that leads up to the castle.

The physical address is:

Carnasserie Castle

Lochgilphead

PA31 8RQ

UK.

Grid reference - NM 838 009

The access route is clearly visible and takes around ten minutes to walk, but access is over agricultural land, so that the walk may be wet or muddy at times. Parking is about half a kilometre from the castle (⅓ of a mile), and the track is relatively steep.

The castle contains information panels erected by the Dalriada project to give visitors some information on the site. Visitors will find a nicely maintained grass courtyard next to the castle, sheltered from the wind, which is an excellent spot to picnic.

Know Before You Go

The hill from the car park is steep and may be a challenge for those with compromised mobility
The path to the castle may be muddy and wet, so visitors should wear sensible shoes
The castle site is part of agricultural land and has some livestock around the area
There are no toilet facilities at the castle, so visitors should stop off at Kilmartin below.

History of Carnasserie Castle

Carnasserie Castle was built for the Earl of Argyll, but it was intended to be a comfortable residence for John Carswell, the superintendent of Argyll. The medieval appearance of the castle was a studied effect of architecture, and historians believe it replaced an earlier fortification nearby.

Timeline

1560 (Castle Built)

John Carswell built Carnasserie Castle under the patronage of the Earl of Argyll. Carswell joined the service of the Earl and tutored his son. Gaining favour, he used the influence of the Earl to Become Bishop of the Isles and built the castle to be his primary residence.

Carswell was quite a character, being over 7 feet (2.1 metres) tall and his thin frame and stooping posture earned him the nickname of 'The Heron.' He was the first man to publish and print a Goidelic language book, a translation of The Book of Common Order, into Gaelic.

Carswell was an amateur architect, and historians suggest that the French Renaissance architecture he witnessed in the building of Stirling Castle heavily influenced him while he served there as Chaplain.

1572

After two marriages and two children, Carswell died, and his daughter became the wife of Dougall Campell of Inverawe and later Bishop Neil Campbell, the next successor of Carnasserie Castle.

1643 (Castle Attacked & Destroyed)

The Archibald Campbell 1st Marquess of Argyll and 8th earl of Argyll sold Carnasserie to Sir Donald Campbell of Auchinleck who enjoyed the lavish residences of the castle for 42 years.

1685 (Rebellion and Royalist Slight Carnasserie)

Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, became embroiled in the Monmouth rebellion or 'Pitchfork rebellion' to overthrow King James II. James II succeeded Carles II, his brother, as King of Scotland and Ireland. As he was a Roman Catholic, protestant leaders opposed his rule and placed Charles II illegitimate, protestant son on the throne to displace his uncle.

Duncan Campbell, Donald Campbell's successor, unwisely supported Argyll's Rising against the Crown in 1685. Archibald Campbell spearheaded the uprising in Scotland, and he marched with troops to capture Bristol and draw supporters to his military campaign. Campbell and his army suffered defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor, and Archibald Campbell was beheaded.

Carnasserie fell under Royalist attack due to Duncan Campbell's support of the uprising, and the Macleans and Machlans captured and sacked the castle and then further destroyed it with explosives. Although the outer walls remained standing, no one repaired the castle again.

Post Monmouth Rebellion

The Campbells of Kilmartin fell into the possession of the ruins when they were granted Kilmartin and the castle site.

1820

The Campbells of Kilmartin relinquished their estates in the 1820s, including Carnasserie Castle, which they sold to their neighbours the Malcolms of Poltalloch.

Today

Today the castle and surrounds are listed as a scheduled monument, and Historic Environment Scotland is the castle's custodian.

Carnasserie Castle Occupants

Carnasserie castle did not achieve the long lifespan of many Scottish castles, as it was a residence from 1562 to 1685. These occupants include:

16th Century Occupant

1562-1572: John Carswell, the protestant reformer, occupied the castle until he died in 1572

17th Century Occupants

1643: The Castle passed to the Campbells of Auchinbreck, who enjoyed residence for 42 years
1685: The Campbells of Kilmartin take ownership of the castle ruins, and no further occupants live in the castle.'

Images of Carnasserie Castle

Images Supplied and licensed from Shutterstock Standard Licence Package

Carnasserie Castle Facts

There appears to be evidence of a small dun or Iron Age walled enclosure on a grass-covered knoll to the northeast of the castle. Experts speculate that the dun dates back to between the 4th and 1st centuries BC and show how the site had strategic importance from a much earlier date.

The castle may have even incorporated a previous medieval dwelling as archaeologists have found evidence of earlier walling incorporated into the northeast angle of the tower itself. In an excavation in May 2017 - June 2017, experts confirmed the presence of structures lying immediately west of the later castle, perhaps an initial castle.

Carnasserie Castle Q&A

What Kind of Castle Is Carnasserie Castle?

Canmore designates Carnasserie as Medieval Tower House with Post Medieval Outbuildings and a 17th Century Gateway. Although the 16th structure appears imposing, it’s not a castle proper as Craswell did not build it to be a defensive strongpoint.

Carnasserie Castle sits within a group of high-status castellated mansions which seem to "play" with the notion of the "ancient keep", incorporating this as a conscious design feature within a modern mansion.

Carswell built the castle primarily as a comfortable residence and integrated the medieval tower and great hall into one integrated structure. To reflect the power and status of the Duke of Argyll and, by association, Craswell himself, the castle was imposing and well defended.The castle features corbelled turrets, a parapet walkway and gun loops and pistol holes around the building.

Did Anyone Die in Carnasserie Castle?

The castle was undoubtedly the scene of some dark history, the most notable being the imprisonment and torture of John Campbell of Ardkinglas. John Campbell was implicated in the brutal murder of Duncan Campbell and imprisoned and tortured in the castle until his confession.

Indeed the castle was the scene of violent episodes in its history. Campbell of Auchinbreck, who escaped the aftermath of Argyll's rebellion, claimed reparation after returning from exile and mentioned the Royalist Maclean burning Carnasserie Castle and hanging Dugard Mactavish and barbarously murdering his uncle Alexander Campbell of Strondour.

What Does the Inscription Mean at the Castle Entrance?

The armorial panel above the castle entrance reveals an inscribed panel that reads in Gaelic' DIA LE UA DHUIBH(N)E', which translates as 'God be with o Duibhne.' Because Duibhne was not one of the current chiefs of the Campbells, it suggests that Craswell was purposefully attempting an impression of antiquity.

The heraldic panel shows a combination of the royal arms of Campbell of Argyll and the royal arms of Scotland. Historians suggest that the panel indicated the marriage of Archibald 5th Earl of Argyll and Jean, a daughter of James V and showed Craswell's allegiance to the Earl.

Location of Carnasserie Castle

Carnasserie castle stands vigil from a ridge dominating the Kilmartin Valley. Historians and Archaeologists consider it likely that the castle rests on the site of an earlier castle.

Other Places To Visit Near Carnasserie Castle

Visitors will find Kilmartin Sculptured Stones less than a third of a mile (0.53 kilometres) from the castle site. The Kilmartin Church and graveyard are home to 23 fine sculpted stones ranging from the 900s to the 1600s.
The Temple Wood Stone Circles is a prehistoric monument found 1.2 miles (1.93 kilometres) from the castle. The stone circle was in use since 3000BC and used in the Bronze age as well. The site was a place for burial ceremonies and funeral rites.
The Ballygowan Cup and Ring Marks,1.6 miles (2.57 kilometres) from the castle, offer some intriguing carvings of cup marks and rings, some 43 in all that date back to somewhere between 3500 and 2500 BC.