A ruined tower house stands on Kerrera’s southern promontory, looking over the Firth of Lorne. Gylen Castle is a late-16th-century castle built by Clan MacDougall and later burned during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
Its occupation was brief, but its afterlife has been carefully managed. Conservation completed in 2006 followed major funding from Historic Scotland and Clan MacDougall supporters worldwide.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Gylen Castle stands at the south end of Kerrera on a promontory overlooking the Firth of Lorne.
The castle was built in 1582 by Clan MacDougall.
It was occupied for a relatively short time.
Covenanters under General Leslie besieged and burned Gylen Castle in 1647 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
Gylen Castle became a scheduled monument in 1931.
Extensive conservation was completed in May 2006, funded by Historic Scotland and Clan MacDougall members worldwide.
People
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General Leslie
Led the Covenanter force that besieged and burned Gylen in 1647.
Connections
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Kerrera
Island setting of the castle.
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Firth of Lorne
Waterway overlooked by the promontory.
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Clan MacDougall
Built Gylen and later supported conservation funding.
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Photo: Anthony O'Neil / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 Historic Scotland
Provided grant funding for conservation completed in 2006.
What to look for
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Promontory setting
The castle's position overlooks the Firth of Lorne.
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Tower-house ruin
The ruin preserves the form of a fortified residence.
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Conserved masonry
The 2006 conservation campaign stabilised the remains.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 56.3794°N · 5.5565°W
- Terrain
- Rough ground — reasonable boots advised
Opening & admission
Check Kerrera route information before travelling
- The castle stands on a promontory at the south end of Kerrera.
- The source gives conservation history but no access terms.
Nearby places
Fortified place · Medieval
Duart Castle
Argyll and Bute
The medieval stronghold and ancestral seat of Clan MacLean, reclaimed and restored by the clan's chief in 1911 after more than a century as a ruin.
Questions people ask
- What is Gylen Castle?
- It is a ruined tower house on Kerrera, overlooking the Firth of Lorne.
- Who built Gylen Castle?
- Clan MacDougall built it in 1582.
- What happened in 1647?
- Covenanters under General Leslie besieged and burned the castle.
- Was it conserved?
- Yes. Extensive conservation was completed in May 2006 with Historic Scotland and Clan MacDougall funding.
Sources
Explore more: Building or ruins · Medieval · Argyll and Bute
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