Eilean Donan Castle

The Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most iconic Scottish Castles and looks like something straight out of a fairytale!

The castle, built around 634AD, is located on the way to the popular Isle of Skye and while I had seen photos of it before going, the photos truly do not do it justice. The castle was originally built as a monastery by Bishop Donan but, in the 13th century, it was taken over by Alexander II and was meant to safeguard the surrounding area from Viking invasions. Over the next centuries, the castle was occupied by the Jacobite uprising and was eventually blown up. Left in ruins for several centuries until the early 1900s, it was reconstructed as a family home by the MacRae family. A bridge was added as well at that time, and remains part of its iconic structure.

Nowadays, tours of the castle are conducted daily and offer a glimpse of the 1920s reconstruction. While it was nighttime when we drove past the castle long past visitor hours, we were still able to walk around and admire the beautifully lit up castle, exploring the grounds and the surrounding waters. 

Eliean Donan Castle remains steeped in romanticism and stands as an iconic symbol of Scotland, guaranteed to take your breath away!