Castle of the Week: Inverlochy with Terri Brisbin!

I'm excited for another castle of the week! Today's castle is Inverlochy in Scotland and is presented by historical romance author, Terri Brisbin! Enjoy :)

 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-15^th 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.