Skipness Castle | Visits & Tours | Full Castle History

Quick Navigation

Visiting Skipness Castle

Skipness Castle is mostly ruins but features an intact tower and a chapel in the vicinity. On a sunny day, the top of the tower offers majestic views over the Isle of Arran. Today, the castle ruins remain open to the public and free to visit, with the tower only open at certain times of the year.

Parking

There is a free car park with plenty of parking close to the nearby smokehouse.

If you’d like to explore more of the surrounding area and enjoy the castle’s approaching road on foot, an option is to park in Skipness village and then take a leisurely, 15-minute walk to the castle premises.

Price

Free

Opening

Skipness Castle is open 24/7 and year-round.

However, one can only visit the tower section from April to September. During this time, it operates from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, with the last entry at 5:00 pm.

Plan Day Visit

Location and Access

Skipness Castle is located south of Skipness village and lies on Kintyre’s north-east coast, which is just off the B8001 road. Navigation is easy as the road has plenty of clear signage.

The road leading up to the castle is a bit potholed (and worse in inclement weather), so a little caution is advised.

Approaching Skipness Castle is an experience in itself as the drive along Skipness beachfront is lovely, and you get to enjoy the exquisite surrounding scenery.

Know Before You Go

To make the most out of your visit to Skipness Castle, try and pick a sunny and clear day as this will give you the best views from the tower.
Picnics are allowed on the lawn around the castle.
The smokehouse nearby is a popular place for sampling the local fresh fish.

History of Skipness Castle

It’s unknown when exactly Skipness Castle was built, but historians believe the MacSween Clan constructed the main structure in the early 13th century when Scotland was under Norwegian rule. The Campbells were later responsible for building the castle’s main attraction- the tower house.

Time Line

-The Early 1200s (Castle Built)

Norway rules Argyll and the MacSween family is the most powerful in the area. They decide to build Skipness Castle as a sign of their power. The MacSween clan controlled all the land between Loch Awe and Loch Fine and Skipness Castle was one of their primary seats.

-1263

The Battle of Largs takes place between the Norwegians and the Scots, with the Scots defeating Haakon IV. While Haakon managed to avoid battle injury, Scotland’s cold and rainy climate was too much for him and he subsequently fell ill and died on a ship.

-1266

King Magnus, Haakon IV’s successor, signs the Treaty of Perth, ceding Argyll to Scotland.

-1290s (Castle Enlarged and Fortified)

Known as the “Lord of the Isles”, the MacDonald family is a force to be reckoned with and seizes control of the castle. They fortify the castle with a strong stone curtain and enlarge the castle to accommodate their clan.

The Chapel of St Brendan (or Kilbrannan Chapel) was also built by the MacDonalds and featured some impressive stone masonry, which has sadly been weathered away over the years.

-1493

The King of Scotland and the MacDonalds have regular feuds, and the king decides to set the powerful Campbell family against them to teach them a lesson.

The Campbell family takes over Skipness Castle, and the MacDonalds leave the area.

-The 1500s (Tower House Extended)

The tower house is extended upwards and is used as accommodation for the castle’s servants. (This section has recently been restored so that visitors can use the wooden staircase.)

-1647

The Battle of Rhunahaorine takes place in the area where the Marquess of Argyll is a solid opponent to the royalists. The Campbells manage to force the royalist army back and retain control of the castle.

-1700

Skipness Castle is no longer used as a residence and is converted into a farm. It was later abandoned by the Campbell family, who moved into a more luxurious country house close to the castle.

-The 1800s

The Scottish government recognizes the historical importance of Skipness Castle and takes over its care as a picturesque ruin.

Skipness Castle Occupants

The first occupants of Skipness Castle were the MacSween Clan, followed by the MacDonalds in 1262. The MacDonalds added some new sections to the castle and fortified it with a stone curtain.

The powerful MacDonald family soon started feuding with the King of Scotland, who decided to teach them a lesson by having their main enemy (the Campbell family) take control of Skipness Castle.

After this, it was taken over by the Campbells, who abandoned it in the 1700s to create a farm. During this time, the tower house was used to accommodate servants.

The tower, today one of the castle’s most striking features, continued to be used as servants’ quarters until the Campbell family abandoned the castle.

Images of Skipness Castle

Images Supplied and licensed from Shutterstock Standard Licence Package

Skipness Castle Facts

It is said that a ghost occupies the local area. Known as a “Gruagach”, the ghost is a helpful child dressed in green who enjoys doing chores. Legend has it that leaving food out for the ghost will ensure that the farm animals remain productive.

Skipness Castle Q&A

Is the Castle Accessible on Foot?

Yes, the castle is accessible to walkers. It is only a 5-minute walk from Skipness village, but it will take around 3 and a half hours if you come from Tarbert.

Are Other Facilities Available at Skipness Castle?

The castle is close to the beach, which is a lovely outing in itself. There is a smokehouse nearby that sells smoked fish, and a quaint gift shop featuring local arts and crafts.

Do I Need To Book Tickets Before Visiting?

Even though admission is free, you do not need to book tickets before visiting Skipness Castle.

The castle grounds are unstaffed, but a staff member locks the door to the tower house in the early evening.

Location of Skipness Castle

Skipness Castle is located on an unnamed road in Tarbert, south of Skipness village and on the northeast coast of Kintyre.

Other Places To Visit Near Skipness Castle

There is plenty to do near Skipness Castle. Skipness Seafood Cabin is a great place to enjoy a fresh fish lunch or dinner, while the Kintyre Peninsula is one of the most beautiful and secluded places to explore in Scotland.

The Royal Castle of Tarbert is another impressive castle, and you can play a round of golf at Tarbert Golf Club.

Visitors to the area also enjoy looking at the Standing Stone (Menhir) of Tarbert, which is covered in lichen and surrounded by panoramic views of the ocean and hills.