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| Saddell Castle | |
|---|---|
| Saddell,Kintyre, Scotland | |
 Saddell Castle | |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Landmark Trust |
| Location | |
  Saddell Castle Shown within Scotland | |
| Coordinates | 55°31′37″N5°30′23″W / 55.5270°N 5.5063°W /55.5270; -5.5063 |
| Grid reference | grid referenceNR788315 |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
Saddell Castle is a historic 16th-centurycastle on the shore of theKilbrannan Sound nearSaddell,Kintyre,Argyll and Bute,Scotland of significant importance. The original castle existed inSomerled's time in the 12th century.[1] The castle served as a bastion of theMacDonald family for several centuries and continues to be visited by MacDonald diaspora from around the world who return to Western Scotland and the Isles. Several MacDonald Lords have resided at Saddell over the centuries, including Alasdair Mor MacDonald, younger brother of Angus Mor MacDonald, Lord of the Isles in the 13th century. Angus Og MacDonald once provided refuge toRobert the Bruce during theFirst War of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century before taking him on to Dunaverty Castle on the Mull of Kintyre.[2]
The current castle, built byDavid Hamilton,Bishop of Argyll, between 1508 and 1512, was constructed from the stones of the ruined castle andSaddell Abbey. In 1556, BishopJames Hamilton gave the castle toJames Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran as payment for debts and taxes.
Later, The Earl of Arran was forced to exchange it with the Chief ofClan MacDonald of Dunnyveg,James MacDonald for James' lands on theIsle of Arran. The castle then became one of several ancestral homes of the MacDonald family in Scotland. Saddell was captured and burnt in October 1558 by an English force led byThomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex,Lord Deputy of Ireland, under orders of QueenMary I of England in retaliation for James MacDonald's involvement in Ireland against the English Crown.[3]
Saddell castle was rebuilt and enlarged by successive MacDonald lairds. A trap door in the main entrance passage sent unwanted visitors into a dungeon with no exits. In 1607, theClan Donald lands in Kintyre, including Saddell, were conveyed by KingJames VI toArchibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll. The castle fell into disrepair when Saddell House was built c. 1774. The castle was bought and restored by theLandmark Trust, which now rents it out as a self-catering property. Members of theClan Donald (the MacDonald family) continue to make pilgrimages to Saddell Castle every year, in memory of its place in Scottish history.
A collection of Celtic Fairy tales compiled by Joseph Jacobs in 1892 contains a story (The Sprightly Tailor) that is set around Saddell Castle. According to the tale, a giant monster that struck the castle wall above the gate left the mark of his five great fingers there.
It can also be seen in the music video forWings' hit "Mull of Kintyre", filmed in Saddell Bay and featuring the Campbeltown Pipe Band marching along the beach.
