Strome Castle (1 of 8)
It is hard when traveling the west coast of Scotland these days, to appreciate just how much travel has changed over time. These days, new roads and bridges, usually funded by the EEC, make travel so much easier than it was, even just a few decades ago. The great fiords or sea-lochs that were the highways of the ancient chieftains in their galleys (a form of transport that has not entirely disappeared it would seem!), became barriers when roads were pushed north into the Highlands (usually for the purpose of pacifying the natives!). While the ferries that sprung up to carry travelers across the lochs in time became a hindrance too, they also provided much charm to unhurried West Highland travel.
Not so many years ago, travelers going north from Kyle of Lochalsh and Plockton (which is just visible in the distance in this photograph), soon found their way blocked by the waters of Loch Carron, the south shore of which is precipitous, and as the next village on the route, Lochcarron, is on the north shore, a ferry ran across the narrowest part of the loch, here at Strome. (A road has now been built along the south shore, so the ferry no longer operates) Not only was Strome a key crossing point, its position at the neck of the loch also made is the key point in days gone by, for controlling who came and went. And that is why they built a castle here!
Strome Castle (1 of 8)
It is hard when traveling the west coast of Scotland these days, to appreciate just how much travel has changed over time. These days, new roads and bridges, usually funded by the EEC, make travel so much easier than it was, even just a few decades ago. The great fiords or sea-lochs that were the highways of the ancient chieftains in their galleys (a form of transport that has not entirely disappeared it would seem!), became barriers when roads were pushed north into the Highlands (usually for the purpose of pacifying the natives!). While the ferries that sprung up to carry travelers across the lochs in time became a hindrance too, they also provided much charm to unhurried West Highland travel.
Not so many years ago, travelers going north from Kyle of Lochalsh and Plockton (which is just visible in the distance in this photograph), soon found their way blocked by the waters of Loch Carron, the south shore of which is precipitous, and as the next village on the route, Lochcarron, is on the north shore, a ferry ran across the narrowest part of the loch, here at Strome. (A road has now been built along the south shore, so the ferry no longer operates) Not only was Strome a key crossing point, its position at the neck of the loch also made is the key point in days gone by, for controlling who came and went. And that is why they built a castle here!