Inverlochy Castle

Inverlochy Castle from the South West

Inverlochy Castle has the slightly sad air of a structure overtaken by history not once, but twice. First it was made redundant as the military focus of the area by the building of a more modern citadel at the nearby head of Loch Linnhe by Cromwell's forces in 1654. The large fort built on the site of this citadel in 1690 was named Fort William after the King, and the settlement that grew around it took the same name.

As it Was: Historic Scotland Information Board The South East Tower Entrance River Lochy and the Rear Wall

And then in 1836 Inverlochy Castle saw even its ownership of its name challenged with the building by Lord Abinger of a new Victorian, chateau-style Inverlochy Castle a short distance north, in Torlundy. This has since been converted into the sort of luxury hotel you can't afford if you need to ask the price.

But perhaps Inverlochy Castle has an occasional laugh at the expense of both. The "Fort" in Fort William was largely destroyed by the coming of the railway to the town in 1866, the line of which was then built over again by the dual carriageway that runs down the lochside. If you wander out to the edge of the loch from the roundabout at the north end of the dual carriageway you can still see some of the walls of the Fort facing out onto the loch; but not much remains. Inverlochy Castle, though hardly in pristine condition, has comprehensively outlasted the usurper that replaced it.

Curtain Wall and Ben Nevis

Curtain Wall Interior

Castle Interior

And while some of the brown tourist signs pointing you to the Castle from the main road north of Fort William refer to "Old" Inverlochy Castle, presumably to avoid confusion, others do not. Inverlochy Castle must have seen more than one confused visitor turn up wondering whether this ruin really was their five-star luxury hotel.

Inverlochy Castle can be found just to the west of the A82 a short distance north of Fort William. If you are coming from Fort William and get as far as the Mallaig turning, you have gone too far.

What you find is a surprisingly complete, though obviously ruined, castle located on the modern banks of the River Lochy and in the midst of a semi-industrial area, accessible only by means of a wooden bridge that leads to a few parking spaces. It is set in a small area of parkland, and is open to public access at any reasonable time.

The Castle was built in the 1200s by the Comyns of Badenoch. There is a legend it was sited on the remains of a fort of some sort dating back at least a further five hundred years. Like most Scottish real estate of any age and monetary or military value, it subsequently passed through a number of hands, usually by force. The Red Comyn fell victim to Robert the Bruce's royal ambitions, who in turn passed it on to his supporters, and so on.

Inverlochy Castle was the location of two battles. In 1431 the MacDonalds defeated the Stewarts here. In 1645, not long before the castle was rendered redundant, the Campbells under the Earl of Argyll, who was holding it, were defeated by the Marquis of Montrose, a victory that was followed by the massacre of 1,300 of the defenders (see our Historical Timeline).

Inverlochy Castle is far more than a footnote in history, but it is a rather odd place; and positioning it in the wider picture of the castles in the area can be a confusing process. But it is certainly well worth visiting. And walkers on Scotland's the 73 mile Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness can call in literally as they pass.