Visiting Inverlochy Castle
by Terri Brisbin
During my last trip to Scotland
(lamentably, 3 years ago), I went all by myself and drove all over the country,
islands and highlands. When I saw a place I knew or one that looked
interesting, I stopped. So, after leaving Oban, as I was driving up the west
coast and had just passed through Fort William, I spied this wonderful castle
by the road. On the south bank of the River Lochy, it sits at the entrance to
the Great Glen.
Inverlochy Castle was built in
the late 1200’s by John ‘the Black’ Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lochaber,
though there are reports of earlier forts and settlements on the same site from
even Vikings times. After Robert the
Bruce won the Scottish throne, his enemies (especially the Comyns) lost their
lands and Inverlochy was vacant for some time.
In the mid-15th century, the Battle of Inverlochy saw
Alexander MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, defeated by the army of King James
I. Over the next centuries, it was owned
by the Gordons and used in another strategic battle when James Graham, the Marquess of Montrose, fought
against the Covenanters in 1645.
Later, the castle was abandoned for new
fortifications downstream which would become Fort William. And the castle ruins remained pretty much as
they were…..
I arrived there on a quiet day and
had much of the castle to myself. Most impressive were the THICK stone walls
and the corner towers. When I stood at the base of one of the towers and looked
up the curving staircase, I could almost imagine those living in the castle. Actually, standing in the middle of the stone
ruins, I could imagine myself living in those earlier times! Even now, ideas
for stories are floating through my mind for this castle.
If you get the chance to visit
the west of Scotland, make sure to stop and explore the ruins of Inverlochy
Castle – and for more info about the castle, visit http://www.inverlochycastle.co.uk/
~Terri
Award-winning, ‘South Jerseyan’ Terri
Brisbin, when not being a mom, a wife and a dental hygienist, has sold more
than 1.7 million copies of her historical romance novels and novellas in more
than 20 countries around the world. Her current and upcoming romances will be
published by Harlequin Historicals and Terri is re-releasing some of her earlier
works, too. Visit www.terribrisbin.com for more info about Terri, her works and
upcoming events.
5 comments:
Love the post, Terri, and the pictures. I didn't get to Inverlochy when I visited Scotland several years ago. But it's going on my dream list--the dream being, of course, that I get to go back :)
B. Bettis
What a wonderful experience, Terri! To be there basically by yourself and be lost in the past. sigh . .
Thanks for blogging about this castle. I don't recall ever really hearing about it.
Amazing that the past can live so close in some countries. Here, we think something from 1860 is "old."
I think we did stop at this castle, Terri. We spent time in Oban and they headed north. Great photos and information about the placed.
Ah, Terri. Next time you want to drive through Scotland, give me a call. I'm always up for a visit to the homeland.
And I think I've seen this castle, but I didn't get a chance to visit.
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