Kildonan Castle

Kildonan Castle remains stand in the village of Kildonan (Scottish Gaelic: Cill Donnain) on the southern coast of the Isle of Arran, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Arainn, Alba). It was built in the 13th century by the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles, in a strategically defensive position. It is at the entrance to the Firth of Forth looking towards the uninhabited island of Pladda (Scottish Gaelic: Pladaigh). The castle was later used as a hunting lodge by the Kings of Scotland and became the property of the Earls of Arran in 1544.

The castle's name is derived from Saint Donan, who is said to be buried on the island. Saint Donnán of Eigg was a Gaelic priest, who along with 54 other members of his religious community were killed on 17 April 617AD. It was said that at the time he was attempting to introduce Christianity to the Picts of north-western Scotland.

Image: Kildonan Castle from an image by Mark Phillips and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.