Not quite September newsletter!

Anyone who reads my posts regularly will notice that I missed writing one for September. That wasn't intentional - it was simply because I went on holiday for a few days and my usual plans were thrown into disorder.

In some ways it was a busman's holiday, as we visited two castles during our trip to Scotland.

Dunollie Castle

The first was Dunollie, which guards the entrance to Oban Harbour. Originally there was a hillfort on the site, but that was burned and destroyed in 686. It was rebuilt in 714 and fortified with an earthwork castle either at the end of the 12th Century or the beginning of the 13th. For centuries it has been owned by the MacDougall family, who became the Lords of Lorne. In 1746 the castle was abandoned in favour of Dunollie House, which was constructed just down the hill from the castle. Both are now open to the public at certain times, with guided tours available on specified days. There is also a small café on site, serving delicious, freshly made food. We had a few hours to spare in Oban and thoroughly enjoyed our walk along the shore to visit Dunollie.

Entrance to Kilchurn Castle.

We stayed on Loch Awe for a second time. As with so many other Scottish lochs, the scenery is magnificent, with mountains surrounding the water on all sides, their slopes covered with forest and with ruined castles occupying headlands. In the case of Loch Awe, the castle is Kilchurn, which was built around 1450 by Sir Colin Campbell, who was the first Lord of Glenorchy. The family subsequently became the Earls of Breadalbane and are part of the Clan Campbell.

The castle itself was extended over the years and at one point became barracks, housing 200 troops. It was also used as a garrison during the 1705 and 1745 rebellions.

Unfortunately it was badly damaged by lightning in 1760 and was abandoned. Now it forms a very scenic ruin at one end of Loch Awe and is among the most photographed castles in Scotland. I've noticed it on calendars, postcards, posters, in books etc.

We stayed in a hotel about two miles further down the loch, but we could see Kilchurn Castle clearly from the hotel terrace during the daytime and the early morning sunrise featured it as an interesting and atmospheric silhouette.

The castle has inspired poets and painters, including J.M.W. Turner, who sketched it in 1801 and subsequently painted "Rainbow over Loch Awe" in 1831.

Kilchurn Castle seen from our hotel just after sunrise.