Dunvegan Castle

The following is from the Historic Environment Scotland Gardens and Designed Landscapes Inventory. For the most up-to-date Inventory entry, please visit the Historic Environment Scotland website:

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Type of Site

No information available.

Location and Setting

Dunvegan Castle is set on the north-west coast of Skye, sheltered in the southern inlet of Loch Dunvegan. It is, directly, some 14.5 miles (23km) from Portree as the crow flies but considerably further along the A850 coastal road across the north of Skye. The A850 begins at old Dunvegan pier, encloses the policies of the Castle and joins the A863 to the south at Dunvegan village. The site is bounded on its other, western side, by the loch. Soils are acid, and the variety of plants that can be grown is dependent upon the availability of shelter. Cnoc Mor rises steeply to the east of the Castle, and the lower slopes are planted with coniferous woodland. The burn of Abhuinn Dubh Bhreac cuts down through the woodlands and enters Dunvegan Loch in the small bay to the south of the Castle. The setting provides dramatic views of Dunvegan Loch and its coastline and the small islands in the loch. The woodlands are an important scenic feature in the surrounding moorland and mountain landscape, but they screen the Castle and gardens from view from the landward side. The Castle is designed to be viewed from the loch where it presents an imposing and striking facade, standing on the edge of the cliffs above the loch.

The Castle was started in the 13th century and probably was built on the site of an earlier fortification. It was sited for defensive purposes on a rocky basalt promontory, with water on three sides and a causeway to the east side linking it with the mainland. The site is exposed to the westerly winds and with very little low-lying ground on which to lay out a designed landscape; the extent has remained the same since the woodlands were planted and is the same today as was shown on the 1st edition OS map of c.1870. The policies are enclosed by the loch and the roadside and the gardens have been developed within this area; however, plantations extend eastwards up the lower slopes of Cnoc Mor and these provide a backdrop to the views from the east side of the Castle. There are 42 acres (17ha) in the designed landscape today.

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

The Castle, of mainly mid-19th century appearance, was remodelled in 1840 by Robert Brown Jnr; it is listed A. The east front has an entrance in the form of a gatehouse with two octagonal Gothic towers on either side of the porch. There are two bridges in the policies, the causeway bridge, and a smaller late 18th century, single-arched bridge. The Gatepiers, erected by tenants and MacLeod clansmen in 1938 in memory of the three MacLeod brothers, Norman, Reginald and Roderick, have a pair of wrought-iron gates and screen walls bearing the memorial plaque; they are listed B. The laundry, formerly the Factor's house, is dated 1754 and is listed A. The Walled Garden and the 16th century sundial within it are listed B, as are the stables and saw mill. Dunvegan Pier is early 19th century and is listed C(S).

Woodland

Most of the woodlands east of the A850 are coniferous plantations, while those to the west of the road are mainly deciduous species. Some older beech are left in the wood north of the castle but trees in this area have suffered from severe windshear. Birch has naturalised in sheltered areas, and there are also mature oak, ash, beech with an understorey of Rhododendron ponticum. Some areas have been cleared and replanted with conifers.

Woodland Garden

The woodland walk extends to the north of the Castle, through silver birch, ash, rowan, gorse and old Rhododendrons. New paths have been cleared by young members of the Clan MacLeod at the time of the Clan Parliament in 1982. Tracks lead to a viewpoint across the inlet to the Castle and a seat has been placed here. The woodland garden extends to the A850 from the Castle, and a gate leads directly from the road down to the gardens. The paths are lined with Rhododendrons, many of them remaining from the 1920's planting. A path runs south to the Formal, Water and Walled Gardens. There used to be a summerhouse to the east of the Water Garden but this has since been lost.

Water Features

The focus of this garden is the spectacular waterfall falling over a sheer cliff of basalt and descending in several channelled rivulets through the water garden which has intertwining paths and bridges across the streams. It is planted up with water-loving species and presents a beautiful display of Primulas, Meconopsis, Hostas, ferns and Gunnera in season. There is a second waterfall which would benefit from clearance of Fuchsia and other shrubs which are overgrowing it. New ornamental planting has been undertaken recently, including a Tulip Tree.

The Gardens

This area, laid out originally in the late 19th century, is now mainly lawn with a few specimen trees including a monkey puzzle and a large yew. A parterre of clipped box hedges forms the centrepiece of this garden which is bedded out annually. A good beech hedge surrounds the garden and seats are provided.

Walled Garden

The large square walled garden was put in around 1810 to the south of the Castle, although Boswell refers to an earlier orchard surrounded by low walls in 1773. The garden is now mainly disused, although part of it is still used for growing cut flowers, and fruit bushes are still espaliered along part of the wall. There is a garden cottage at the south end, and the glasshouses lie to the north of the garden.