by Magda D. Healey

Created on: December 07, 2011   Last Updated: December 08, 2011

Dunvegan Castle is situated on the Scottish Isle of Skye, north of Dunvegan and approximately 30km west of Portree. The castle is the ancestral home of the Chief of Clan MacLeod who have lived there for almost 800 years. Dunvegan Castle has the distinction of being the oldest continuously occupied castle in Scotland.

The castle's history is inextricably linked to the history of the

Clan MacLeod, being the seat of MacLeod of MacLeod (the current Chief is Hugh MacLeod of MacLeod, the 30th chief of the MacLeod Clan). The MacLeods' heritage goes back to Leod, one of the Lords of the Isles. He was the son of Olaf the Black, who in 1237 came into the possession of the Isle of Skye (as well as other Hebrides).

The castle has been constructed on a 10m high basalt column that rises vertically from the east bank of Loch Dunvegan (until recently it was surrounded by water at high tide) and it is said that the first stronghold there was built by Leod himself in the early 13th century. This consisted of a curtain wall of which small parts remain, incorporated into the current structure.

The current structure comprises numerous parts and six distinct buildings dating to various periods in Dunvegan's long and colourful history, starting with the keep that was raised in the mid-14th century by Malcolm, the third Chief. This is still largely extant.

The early 16th century saw the building of the Fairy Tower, whose name is connected to the revered MacLeod relic, the Fairie Flag. Some legends claim that it was given to one of the first MacLeods by his faerie wife, some say it was captured from the Saracens during the crusades (though the material is silk dating to 4th to 7th centuries). The Flag is supposed to grant MacLeods victory in battle every time is unfurled, but can only be used three times, with one use now left after the battles of Glendale (1490) and Trumpan (1580).

The 17th century witnessed the construction of the Rory Mor's House (1623) and further additions in the second half of the century.

The site of the castle is eminently defensible and until the 18th century the only entrance was through a sea gate with a portcullis. A land-side entrance was only create mid-18th century during the times of Jacobite rebellions. The rebellions split the MacLeod clan, as many of the MacLeods supported the Jacobites despite the Chief being against the Pretenders. Flora MacDonald, known for aiding Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape to Skye, happened to marry a tutor to a young

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