Duart Castle

Duart Castle stands on a rocky outcrop at the eastern tip of Mull. From here you look out over the Sound of Mull, the Firth of Lorn and Loch Linnhe. The first stone walls date from the mid-13th century; the Macleans acquired the castle in the 14th century as part of a dowry, and around 1390 Lachlan Lubanach Maclean had the keep built. After the Jacobite rising of 1689 the estates were lost and the castle fell into ruin. In 1911 Sir Fitzroy Maclean bought the ruin and had it restored with the architect Sir John Burnet; in 1912 the clan celebrated its completion. Today the 28th clan chief lives here.

Large parts are open to visitors, including the wall walk at the top of the keep with its wide views. A shop and tearoom occupy a former byre. The castle can be reached by car, on the castle’s own bus from Craignure ferry terminal, or by boat from Oban.