Dunderave Castle

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Dunderave Castle

Argyllshire


Dunderave Castle on the shores of Loch Fyne
Type: L-Plan Castle
Location
Location: 56°14’35"N, 4°59’53"W
Town: Inverary
History
Built c.1500
Information

Dunderave Castle is an L-plan castle built in the 16th century as the seat of the MacNaughton clan. The castle lies on a small promontory on the northern shores of Loch Fyne, around three miles north-east of Inveraray in Argyll.

The castle is still in use as a residence. The present castle was built after the MacNaughtons' previous castle was destroyed following a Plague infection. The old castle, and remnants of McNaughton crannógs, can still be seen on the lochan known as the Dubh Loch at the head of Glen Shira.

The name Dunderave is of Gaelic origin. Since the MacNachtans were designated 'of Dunderave' from as early as 1473, the place-name appears to have moved with the clan from the Dubh Loch. It has been suggested that the name derives either from Dun-an-Rudha, meaning 'The Knoll on the Promontory', or else from Dun-da-Ramh, 'The Castle of Two Oars'. The latter is taken to imply that there was a ferry near the site of the castle.[1]

Outside links

References

  1. Cock (1998, p. 34)
  • Cock, Matthew (1998), Dunderave Castle and the MacNachtans of Argyll, Dunderave Estate, ISBN 0-9658338-0-1