Duart Castle

About this place

Duart Castle stands on a rocky headland above the Sound of Mull on the Isle of Mull in Scotland.

It has been the seat of Clan MacLean since the 13th century, with a keep and curtain walls dating back around 800 years.

The building fell into ruin before being restored in 1911 by Sir Fitzroy Donald Maclean and remains home to the MacLean chiefs today.

Visitors can tour the castle rooms, walk the grounds, and stop at the tearoom, which uses produce from the castle's own walled garden.

History

The castle dates from the 13th century and has long been the principal stronghold of Clan MacLean. After centuries of conflict, including the clan's decline following the Jacobite risings, Duart fell into disrepair and stood roofless for much of the 18th and 19th centuries. Sir Fitzroy Donald Maclean bought back the castle and rebuilt it in 1911, restoring it as the family seat it remains today.

Architecture

The castle retains its massive medieval curtain walls and keep. The 1911 restoration added Edwardian-era rooms and roofing within the historic shell, preserving the medieval structure's outline.

Worth knowing

The regimental colours of the 236th Battalion, New Brunswick Kilties, a Canadian Expeditionary Force unit from the First World War, are laid up in the Great Hall. The castle has also served as a filming location, its dramatic coastal setting providing a distinctive backdrop.

Gardens & grounds

The castle's walled garden and polytunnel supply much of the produce used in the on-site tearoom.

Facilities