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All that remains today of Inchmurrin Castle is a small part of a wall.
Back to Castles Index please.
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The castle had been an ancient seat of the Earls of Lennox since the end of the 14th century after they abandoned their old castle at Balloch.
It was built by Duncan, the 8th Earl of Lennox on Inchmurrin in Loch Lomond, one of the largest islands south of the east-west chain of islands that marks the Highland Boundary Fault line.
Measuring about 30ft by 50ft, comprising three main rooms, the keep was built on a rocky western outcrop which provided security and effective control of loch traffic.
It also acted as a hunting lodge, taking advantage of the island's deer park that had been established by Robert 1 about a century before.
In 1425, Duncan and all his male heirs were executed by James 1 after Duncan's daughter, Isabella, had married into the corrupt regency of the Duke of Albany, Murdoch Stewart.
She was imprisoned for two years but was released to live on the island until her death in 1460. The Stewarts of Darnley took over the castle, granted to them when Duncan's estate had been divided after his death.
In 1617, James VI stayed there during his only Scottish visit after the Union of the Crowns and later granted the castle and the earldom to his cousin Ludovick Stewart.
However, during the 1700's the estate passed to the Dukes of Montrose and today the titles are held by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon.

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