Cruachan Hotel Fort William Highlands

Inverlochy Castle is a ruined medieval fortress on banking institutions associated with River Lochy about a mile north east of Fort William. Certainly one of Scotland's earliest stone castles, the 13th century fortress had been built by the powerful Comyn household. The palace is in the form of a square with round towers at corners.

Record
Inverlochy Castle had been built where the River Lochy empties into Loch Linnhe around 1280 by the 'Red' Comyns, lords of Lorn and Badenoch. The location ended up being perfect to manage the western end associated with the Great Glen; a counterpart of Inverness Castle during the eastern end associated with the glen. The Comyns built a quadrangular fortress with a curtain wall over 3 metres thick, with a round tower at each and every part. An extensive moat protected three sides associated with website, leaving the fourth part is defended because of the river itself. There were two entrances at opposite finishes, shielded by barbicans.

Though empty today, the internal courtyard was initially crowded with wood buildings, supplying stables and workshops. Residences had been within the place towers, together with huge northwest tower housed the Comyn lords. The Comyn Tower appears three storeys large, with a storage location in cellar therefore the lord's exclusive quarters above. This tower is just one of the shows of Inverlochy; it nevertheless appears to its complete height. Certainly, one of many astonishing popular features of the castle in general is that it is often so bit modified within the hundreds of years. Maybe it destroyed miliatary significance before it might go through the ievitable change of changeing styles. Nevertheless, Inverlochy the most complete 13th century castles in Scotland.

The Comyns
The 'Red' part associated with the Comyn dynasty managed vast swaths of north Scotland and maintained castles at Ruthven and Lochindorb. The 'Ebony' Comyn lords presented the earldom of Buchan, due to their significant palace at Balvennie.

The Comyns had been close allies of Balliols, a commitment that will fundamentally bring disaster once the Balliols fought with Robert Bruce when it comes to straight to rule. In 1306 John Comyn ended up being murdered by Bruce at Dumfries. Whenever Bruce became master he managed to make it a priority to destroy Comyn energy into the north. Bruce's armies defeated the Comyns at Inverurie in 1308 and Inverlochy fell to the king's hands.

What happened to the castle then is not clear, for despite the fact that the Comyn Tower still stands to the parapet level, and the structure of the castle has hardly changed at all over 7 centuries, Inverlochy is a ruin, and trees grow within the rubble of the crumbling walls. Its a remarkably intimate spot, with shady trees ultimately causing the lake lender. However it wasn't constantly calm here.

The Battles of Inverlochy
In 1431 a royal military in Earl of Mar occupied Inverlochy briefly before meeting a power of Highland clansmen under Alexander Macdonald, Lord of this Isles. The Highlanders were victorious, while the royal army ended up being put to trip.

After that in 1645 the Marquis of Montrose led another royal military to attack a military of Covenanters led because of the Earl of Argyll. Montrose astonished the Covenanters by leading his males on a shock march over Ben Nevis to strike and defeat Argyll's power. 10 years later it had been the turn of Oliver Cromwell's English soldiers; they built an artillery fort simply south associated with medieval castle, beside the River Nevis. From those simple beginnings developed the modern city of Fort William.

Getting Indeed There
The castle is within a partly ruinous condition, though the location next to the lake is lovely. The palace website may be achieved off the main A82 roadway north from Fort William towards Spean Bridge, before the junction using A830 (the street towards Isles). The truly amazing Glen Way trail passes within metres regarding the website. The website is accessible anytime - and ideally you will have much better weather condition when you visit than we performed!

You could wonder the reason why it is known as 'Old Inverlochy Castle'. Which is to tell apart the site from Inverlochy Castle, a nearby deluxe resort.