Inverlochy Castle
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.
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