Loch an Eilein Castle

Loch an Eilein Castle sits in the middle of Loch an Eilein, with the Cairngorm mountains as a backdrop.

Loch an Eilein is Gaelic for 'Loch of the Island' which is quite fitting. This castle is in a stunning position, that is enjoyed from the banks of the loch, unless of course you are a wild swimmer or take a canoe.

We have stopped here on several occasions, and never get bored.

The castle conjures up thoughts of romanticism, but some of it's history quite different.

It has long been associated with the infamous 'Thieves Road', so could have been used as a place of refuge.

The island was perfect for it's naturally defensive position. It is believed that the Bishop of Moray may have built a house on the southern end of the island, sometime between 1222 and 1298.

Then in the 1380's, Alexander Stewart (The Wolf of Badenoch), who was the son of King Robert II, constructed a tower house on the north of the island, the remains of which can still be seen. The tower house, like others had a vaulted basement, a first floor hall and upper bed chamber. There would probably have been other buildings around a small courtyard, all surrounded by a defensive curtain wall.

A full history of this little gem, is difficult to come by, but the lands were owned by the Mackintoshes, then Gordons, before landing in the hands of the Grants in 1567. It is thought that around 1600, Patrick Grant of Rothiemurchus made the curtain wall stronger and improved the buildings within the compound.

In 1690, the Jacobites besieged the castle, when retreating from their defeat at the Battle of Cromdale. However it was successfully defended. This is where the infamous Grizel Mhor comes in. She was the daughter of William Mackintosh of Kellachie and married James Grant 5th Laird of Rothiemurchus, she apparently held the castle against the Jacobites, this threw me as I thought she was a supporter of the Jacobites. However, after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, she is said to have sheltered Jacobites at the castle. If anyone can enlighten me, please do!

This island was once larger and there was a causeway connecting the shore to the western side of the island. In the 18th century a damn was built as part of estate works which inevitably caused the water levels in the loch to rise.

For those of you who love your wildlife, you will be in heaven here. Amongst the birds found here are, crested tit, common redstart, spotted flycatcher, tree pipit, red-throated diver, common sandpiper, whinchat, and the occasional merlin.

The Loch an Eilein part of the Rothiemurchus Forest has numerous facilities, including toilets, a visitor centre, a shop and a huge car park.

If you have time, you could do the fantastic Loch an Eilean Circular which is just over 5km through the surrounding woodland.

There are good paths all the way round the loch.

You could even feed the ducks when you get back.

If you really wanted to push the boat out, you could climb up and bag the Ord Ban Trig Point. Although you may want to save that for another day.

Loch an Eilein Castle is a Scheduled Monument with Historic Environment Scotland.

It is just over 0.5km to reach Loch Eilein Castle.

Follow the above route, or find on OS Maps.