Dunstaffnage Castle was built around 1220 by Duncan MacDougall, Lord of Lorn, and was key to controlling Loch Etive during the power-struggle between Scottish and Norwegian forces vying for control of Argyll and the Western Isles. Norwegian control of Western Scotland came to an end following the Treaty of Perth in 1266; whilst the Western Isles were handed to the MacDonald Clan, who later received the title of Lord of the Isles. The MacDougalls also received royal favour and continued to cement their position in Argyll. However, in 1308 the MacDougalls fell out of favour after siding with the English-supported John Balliol during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Following Balliol’s defeat at the Battle of the Pass of Brander by Robert the Bruce, the castle was confiscated. It then remained a royal property until 1470 when James III granted it to Colin Campbell, Earl of Argyll. During the Civil War, Dunstaffnage was held against the King and withstood an attack by James Graham, Earl of Montrose in 1644. Later, after the restoration of the monarchy, it was attacked by royalist troops following the Earl of Argyll’s unsuccessful 1685 rebellion against James VII. During the Glorious Revolution and the subsequent Jacobite Risings, the castle was garrisoned by governmental forces but this was to be the last military use. A little over 60 years later, in 1810, an accidental fire gutted the castle and thereafter it drifted into ruin. Today the castle is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland and is open to the public. #Scotland #braveheart #castle #travel #scottishtiktok - @castlesofscotland