Urquhart Castle (17)
The water gate and the modern path leading from it down to the lochside. In medieval times, galleys would have been far and away the quickest means of moving up and down this end of the Great Glen and having reached the south end of Loch Ness, you were already more than half way to the western sea.
After its granting to the Grants, it was not long before Urquhart was tested in its new role as a bulwark against the western clans - and it was found wanting. In 1513, following the disastrous Battle of Flodden, Sir Donald MacDonald of Lochalsh attempted to gain from the disarray in Scotland by claiming the Lordship of the Isles and occupying Urquhart Castle. Grant regained the castle before 1517, but not before the MacDonalds had driven off 300 cattle and 1,000 sheep, as well as looting the castle of provisions.
In 1545 the castle was again attacked and taken by the Macdonalds in conjunction with the Camerons this time, as part of a feud against the Gordons, Frasers and Grants. Known as the "Great Raid", the raiders succeeded in taking away 2,000 cattle, as well as hundreds of other animals. They stripped the castle of its furniture, twenty cannon, a powder vessel and even the gates! Repairs followed, but this period marked the start of the decline of the castle, which was to play little part in the events of the centuries that followed.
Urquhart Castle (17)
The water gate and the modern path leading from it down to the lochside. In medieval times, galleys would have been far and away the quickest means of moving up and down this end of the Great Glen and having reached the south end of Loch Ness, you were already more than half way to the western sea.
After its granting to the Grants, it was not long before Urquhart was tested in its new role as a bulwark against the western clans - and it was found wanting. In 1513, following the disastrous Battle of Flodden, Sir Donald MacDonald of Lochalsh attempted to gain from the disarray in Scotland by claiming the Lordship of the Isles and occupying Urquhart Castle. Grant regained the castle before 1517, but not before the MacDonalds had driven off 300 cattle and 1,000 sheep, as well as looting the castle of provisions.
In 1545 the castle was again attacked and taken by the Macdonalds in conjunction with the Camerons this time, as part of a feud against the Gordons, Frasers and Grants. Known as the "Great Raid", the raiders succeeded in taking away 2,000 cattle, as well as hundreds of other animals. They stripped the castle of its furniture, twenty cannon, a powder vessel and even the gates! Repairs followed, but this period marked the start of the decline of the castle, which was to play little part in the events of the centuries that followed.