A roofless tower near Lochbuie still stands high enough to show its parapet against the Mull landscape. Moy Castle is a ruined tower house, a fortified multi-storey residence, and is now a scheduled monument.
The castle belonged to the Macleans of Lochbuie, was captured and returned, and was abandoned when a new house was built nearby. Conservation work in the 21st century has aimed to stabilise its unusually intact walls.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Moy Castle stands near Lochbuie on the Isle of Mull. The land was granted to Hector Reaganach Maclean, 1st Laird of Lochbuie, in 1360.
Construction was probably begun by John Maclean, 3rd Laird, and finished by his son Hector, the fourth laird. The first surviving mention is in a March 1494 royal charter confirming John Maclean, 5th Laird, held his lands from the Lord of the Isles.
Clan Campbell captured the castle from the Macleans of Lochbuie, but it was later returned. Moy Castle was abandoned in 1752 when a new house was built nearby.
The castle is a three-storey tower house with a garret. Much surviving stonework dates to the early 15th century, with later alterations at the end of the 16th century.
Stabilisation works were carried out between 2006 and 2015, and further conservation continued as of 2020. Moy Castle was used in Powell and Pressburger's 1945 film I Know Where I'm Going!
People
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Hector Reaganach Maclean
Received the land on which Moy Castle was built in 1360.
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John Maclean, 3rd Laird of Lochbuie
Probably began construction of the castle.
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Hector Maclean, 4th Laird
Probably completed construction.
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John Maclean, 5th Laird
Named in the 1494 charter.
Connections
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Lochbuie
Nearby Mull settlement.
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Macleans of Lochbuie
Family associated with the castle's construction and occupation.
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Clan Campbell
Captured the castle before it was returned to the Macleans.
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I Know Where I'm Going!
1945 film that used Moy Castle for scenes.
What to look for
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Tall roofless tower
The walls survive nearly to the gables and parapet despite loss of the roof.
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Crenellated parapet
The upper level preserves crenellated masonry and remains of two cap-houses.
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Ground-floor well
A well survives in the ground floor.
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Barmkin trace
A small enclosure or barmkin lay on the south-east side.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 56.3547°N · 5.8592°W
- Terrain
- Moderate walking
Opening & admission
Check local conservation/access information before travelling
- The source notes ongoing conservation work as of 2020.
- No public access terms are stated.
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 Moy Castle?
- It is a ruined three-storey tower house near Lochbuie on Mull.
- Who built Moy Castle?
- Construction was probably begun by John Maclean, 3rd Laird of Lochbuie, and finished by his son Hector.
- When was it abandoned?
- It was abandoned in 1752 when a new house was built nearby.
- Was Moy Castle used in film?
- Yes. It was used for scenes in Powell and Pressburger's 1945 film I Know Where I'm Going!.
Sources
Explore more: Building or ruins · Medieval · Argyll and Bute
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