Knock Castle / Isle of Skye

Knock Castle, Skye - Clan MacDonald"

other pictures of Skye

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a bit of history

Two MacDonald strongholds on Skye seized from Clan MacLeod were the ruined Castle Camus or Knock Castle, four miles from Armadale on a headland near Teangue in Sleat, and Duntulm. Little is known of Knock save that the castle was at its zenith in the mid-sixteenth century. It is recorded that on August 31st, 1632, a certain McConillreich, signed a bond of fealty with the occupant of the castle, Sir Donald MacDonald of Sleat. Many legends surround the grass-encircled rock on which its ivy-covered ruins stand.

Once - apparently about 1513 - when surrounded by feuding wariors of Alasdair Crotach MacLeod, the castle would have fallen to the marauders hat it not been for the inspired leadership and heroism of Mary MacDonald (Mary of the Castle). To this very day her praises are still echoed in a Gaelic ballad sung to a traditional air.

It was at the end of the fifteenth century that the castle was besieged by the MacLeods who had come, as they often did to fight for more land. James MacDonald - a principal cadet of the clan was in residence but did not feel able to ward off the enemy. Through the persuasion and cunning of a young maidservant - "Mary of the Castle", James was able to gather his neighbours and finally defeat the enemy.

Originally Castle Camus was a stronghold of Clan MacLeod. But when Good John of Isla disinherited his first wife's sons he gave Skye to Ranald, his first born son. Thence the MacDonalds conquered Knock, Dun Sgathaich and later Trotternish with Duntulm Castle. From Knock the Chief of Clan Donald left for Dun Sgathaich, leaving Knock as one of the fortresses of the Baronets of Sleat. In 1617 Donald Gorm held his lands in Sleat under the condition that he should hold Knock ready to receive the King or his representative. In 1690 Castle Knock was uninhabited.

When Iain Borb Macleod was still a child his tutor, Iain Mushealbhach (John the Ill Fated) lost Dun Sciath and Knock Castle to Donald MacDonald. But when attacking Dun Bheagan itself MacDonald was defeated by MacLeod of Lewis and a mixed army of Skye and Lewismen.

In 1690 after the burning of Armadale House, the king's men sought refuge here from the revenging MacDonalds but failing supplies they were defeated.

After Culloden Allan MacDonald of Knock seized and captured Donald MacLeod of Galtrigal who had served Bonnie Prince Charlie and had been responsible for his safety from April 21st to June 21st that year.

Clan-Septs

Castles I visited

Edinburgh	Eilean Donan	Duntulm	Dun Bheagan	Dunrobin	Cawdor	Blair Atholl	Braemar	Kirkwall	Strome	Knock	Moil

Armadale	Mey	Stirling	Tantallon	Thurso	Birsay	Kirkwall	Balmoral	Stuart	Corgarff	Stalker	Ackergill Tower

Inverness	Balvenie	Loch Lomond	Dun Sciath	Kilravock Castle	Elgin	old Keiss	new Keiss	Girnigoe	Sinclair	Urquhart	Old Wick

Carbisdale	Tongue	Kilberry	Tarbert	Stonefield	Sadell	Torisdale	Skipness	Carnasserie	Dunadd	Dunstaffnage	Barcaldine

Brodick	Lochranza	Dunaverty	Inveraray	Kilchurn				Ruthven Barracks	Fort William	Fort Augustus	Fort George