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An aerial view shows a ruined castle on a sandy spit reaching into a loch, a village and mountains surrounding the water.
Isle of Arran

Lochranza Castle

A castle on a spit of land in Loch Ranza, built as a hall-house around 1300 and remade as a tower house in the 1500s.

Welcome

At the north end of Arran, Lochranza Castle stands alone on a narrow spit of shingle reaching into Loch Ranza, with the hills rising all around.

Visited and photographed by Simon Hird

It looks like a typical Scottish tower house of the 1500s, but inside it hides something much rarer: a hall-house built in the late 1200s or early 1300s.

That first building was raised by Dougall MacSween, Lord of Knapdale, who also built a hall-house across the water at Skipness. It had two storeys under battlements, with the lord's rooms above the stores and its only door set high in the wall. In the later 1500s it was remade as a tower house, probably by one of the Montgomerie earls of Eglinton, and the entrance moved round to the landward side.

The ruin is free to visit at any time. Red deer often graze on the green around the village, and seals and otters are seen along the shore.

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Before you go

Open at all times.

The ruin stands on the spit, a short walk from the road.

Where
Lochranza, north Arran.
Built
Around 1300.
Cost
Free.

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Did you know

A stone castle stands on a peninsula beside a calm loch, yellow-flowering gorse filling the foreground and hills fading into the distance.
Did you know

A door up high.

Lochranza's first door was set high in the east wall, reached by a single stair with three barriers on the way up.

An aerial view shows a ruined castle on a sandy spit reaching into a loch, boats moored nearby and mountains surrounding the water.
Did you know

Two castles, one builder.

Dougall MacSween built hall-houses at both Lochranza and Skipness, facing each other across Kilbrannan Sound.

Hidden Scotland

From our guide to Arran

Lochranza Castle stands alone on a spit of shingle in Loch Ranza, with the hills of north Arran rising all around. It looks like a tower house of the 1500s, but hidden inside is a much older hall-house built around 1300 by Dougall MacSween, Lord of Knapdale. In the later 1500s it was remade as a tower house, probably by one of the Montgomerie earls of Eglinton. The ruin is free to wander at any time. Keep an eye out for the red deer that graze the green around the village, and for seals and otters along the shore.

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What is on on Arran
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Where it is

On a spit of land in Loch Ranza, off the road through the village, KA27 8HL.

Close byLochranza.
  1. The Sandwich Station beside an A841 sign showing Pirnmill, Machrie, Blackwaterfoot and LaggThe Sandwich Station, LochranzaSandwiches from the old fire station.Under a mile 2 min by road
  2. Grey clouds break over hills across a calm sea loch at duskThe Sailor's GraveA roadside grave on the way to Catacol.1 mile 3 min by road
  3. Lochranza DistilleryLochranza DistilleryArran whisky, just up the glen.1 mile 3 min by road
  4. Cìr MhòrCìr MhòrThe jagged granite peak at the head of Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox, 798 metres high, its name meaning big comb.5 miles 13 min by road
  5. Walker crossing a wide glen towards distant jagged peaksNorth Glen Sannox6 miles 14 min by road
  6. Sannox BeachSannox BeachA quiet bay on Arran's north-east coast with coarse sand and pink granite gravel, stepping stones over the burn and views up Glen Sannox.7 miles 18 min by road
Directions
Wrought-iron sign for The Lighthouse Restaurant beside a calm lochRestaurantsThe Lighthouse, Pirnmill7.0 miles
Small harbour with an orange swing set, boats moored beside grassy banksAttractionsCorrie8.3 miles
Single-storey café with blue awning and railings, wooden tables on the terraceRestaurantsMara, Corrie8.4 miles
Mist curling around a jagged rocky mountain peakAttractionsGoat Fell9.7 miles
White wooden hut on a pebbled shore with hills beyondAttractionsDougarie Estate12 miles
Sandstone castle with turrets and chimneys viewed over garden flowers and lawnAttractionsBrodick Castle, Garden and Country Park12 miles
Wooden dinosaur sculpture beside a black timber café with picnic tables on sandRestaurantsArran Botanical Drinks, Cladach13 miles
Arran's Cheese Shop entrance with red pillars and a wooden signboard outsideShoppingArran's Cheese Shop13 miles
Sandstone building with sign reading "Arran, Sense of Scotland, by Arran AromaticsShoppingARRAN Sense of Scotland13 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the castle, and when each is next free.

The Hollies, Argyll and ButeThe Hollies
  • Sleeps 18
  • In Tighnabruaich
  • 14 miles from Lochranza Castle
Check datesGlenstriven House, a white Victorian house with grey stone corners, at the top of a gravel drive between lawns, with a wooded hill behind.Glenstriven House
  • Sleeps 15
  • In the Isle of Arran
  • 20 miles from Lochranza Castle
Free 1–3 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay on ArranAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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