Eilean Donan Castle is a must-see when traveling in Scotland. The present castle is not terribly old. It’s a reconstruction completed in 1932. Still, the human history on the island goes back to the 6th century and perhaps even further. The first fortified castle was built on the island in the mid 13th century but was later partially-destroyed during the Jacobite uprising of 1719. After lying in ruins for nearly 200 years, a gentleman named Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and spent 20 years rebuilding the castle into the lovely edifice that we see today. With moody skies and a low tide, Eilean Donan Castle is absolutely spell-binding. Photo by Catherine Pranskatis.
