Now just cliff top ruins Duntulm Castle was originally an ancient Pictish Fort, Dun Dhaibhidh. Named for the Viking, David, who seized it from its Celtic owner. When the Lord of the Isles drove out the Norsemen, he seized the Dun and built a new and improved fort there. Now just a short walk from the road to the cliff top for those with reasonable mobility. Sadly not a path suitable for wheelchair users.
Location of Duntulm Castle
Duntulm Castle sits atop the cliffs at the far north end of the Isle of Skye. On a clear day there are stunning views across The Minch to the Western Isles. If you follow the A855 from either Uig or Staffin and follow the loop round the north end of Skye you can’t miss it. It is approximately 8 miles from both Staffin and Uig. There is parking for half a dozen cars by the side of the road and a couple of benches from which you can enjoy the view. If you take a dog with you please keep it on a lead as sheep graze in this area all year round.
One thing to watch for is any approaching weather as it can arrive very quickly. When we were here it was extremely windy and too much wind would make walking unsafe. It was so windy we have used some photos from one of Melanie’s previous visits to the castle!
The walk to Duntulm Castle
It is a relatively short walk to the Castle ruins and would only take 10-15 minutes to walk there. It is a reasonably good path with just a couple of challenges. We took Sarah’s rollator and two walking sticks so she could swap between them as she wished. The path starts next to the Armco barrier on the road side. Here the path is steep gravel down the grassy cliff to the wooden kissing gate. We managed to avoid a lot of the gravel and used the grass to one side. The rollator goes much better over the grass. Once at the gate Sarah swapped to her sticks as it is a traditional kissing gate so the wheels needed to be folded away and lifted through. Once on the other side we deployed the wheels again.
The path here is level gravel for a short distance before another short uphill section. This part of the path has bad water erosion with deep soil channels. We stepped off the path and back onto the grass at this stage as it was easier for Sarah. Definitely not easy but easier than walking in the deep grooves. Once up this section the path levels out until you reach the castle ruins. The surface swaps between loose gravel and smoother grass, but is mainly grass. The path is wide enough for a rollator but not much more.
Just before the castle the drop off to the left becomes quite steep and exposed so tread carefully. As you approach Duntulm Castle ruins you will see a fence and a gate. Sadly the Castle is in such a poor state of disrepair that there is a chain and padlock on the gate. This is for your own safety. Once at the gate you will also see the Memorial Cairn dedicated to the MacArthur Clan.
A little history and legend of the Castle
Donald Gorm was succeeded by his son, Donald Gorm, who was succeeded by his son, also Donald Gorm. He, in turn, was succeeded by his nephew, another Donald Gorm. There is also the link to one of our other walks to Caisteal Uisdean (Hugh’s Castle) just a few miles away south of Uig. Hugh was Donald Gorm’s cousin, he built his castle without doors or windows with the only access being through the roof. When the castle was finished he wrote to his cousin to invite him to a house warming. He also wrote to Martin, a known rouge, arranging for him to murder his cousin during his visit. Unfortunately he mixed up the two letters and sent the wrong one to Donald Gorm. On learning of his cousin’s plan, Donald Gorm sent his armies to lay seige to Caisteal Uisdean.
The War of the one-eyed woman
This particular of the Donald Gorm’s was married to Rory Mòr MacLeod of Dunvegan’s sister, Margaret. Margaret had lost an eye and Donald Gorm took a dislike to her due to this. He eventually sent her back to her brother on a one-eyed horse accompanied by a one-eyed man and a one-eyed dog. And this insult led to ‘Cogadh na Cailliche Caime’ or the war of the one-eyed woman.
The Ghosts of Duntulm Castle
The story says that the weeping of the unhappy Margaret can still be heard at the castle but she is not the only ghost to haunt the place. Also it was reported that her husband can be heard drinking rowdily with two other ghosts. Another reported ghost that can be heard from time to time is that of a child, a Macdonald heir. Who, at less than a year old, fell from his nurses arms out of a castle window and was killed on the rocks below. It is said his cries can still be heard along with those of his poor nurse. Grief-stricken MacDonald ordered her to be bound and set adrift in a leaking boat. It is believed that his men dragged her away but then hid her in a dungeon until they could smuggle her away. Either way, her unhappy ghost is said to still roam there.
It seems the castle is a very busy place at night, as it is said one can hear many groans coming from the dungeons while on a misty night a procession of kilted warriors can be seen preparing for battle.
The only moaning we heard on our visit was that of the wind.
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