Guardian of the Sea Kingdom

Eilean Donan Castle, lit up at dusk and looking west down Loch Alsh to the Isle of Skye. The Skye Bridge can be seen in the far distance. 

The name Eilean Donan, or island of Donan, is most probably called after the 6th century Irish Saint, Bishop Donan who came to Scotland around 580 AD. 

The first fortified structure was not built on the island until the early 13th century as a defensive measure, protecting the lands of Kintail against the Vikings who raided, settled and controlled much of the North of Scotland and the Western Isles between 800 and 1266. From the mid 13th century, this area was the quite seperate “Sea Kingdom” of the Lord of the Isles where the sea was the main highway and the power of feuding clan chiefs was counted by the number of men and galleys or “birlinns” at their disposal. Eilean Donan offered the perfect defensive position. More can be read at http://www.eileandonancastle.com/about/history/

HighlandsLandscapeNW HighlandsNW ScotlandScotlandbluecloudsduskeilean donan castleisle of skyekyle of lochalshloch alshnightskye bridge