Arran: Lochranza Castle (General view)

Lochranza Castle is built from locally sourced rocks - mostly green and purplish Dalradian metamorphosed sediments, and reddish Permian sandstone.

This L-shaped castle is located in a low position on a peninsula jutting out into the loch. It was built during the 13th century as a two-storey hall house. The original ground floor entrance had a heavily ribbed barrel vault. One of its 16th-century defensive features is the box-machicolation which projects from the front wall enabling the defenders to protect the entrance door below.

In the early 16th century the hall house was transformed. The walls were heightened, a cross wall and a spiral staircase were inserted and a new block of vaulted chambers was added. This conversion into a tower house makes Lochranza very interesting architecturally.

The castle was probably originally the property of the MacSweens of Knapdale, but came into the possession of one of James II's new lords of parliament, Alexander, Lord Montgomery in the mid-15th century. It was this family who held the land for the next 250 years and altered the castle to its present appearance.

SCRAN ID: 000-000-004-087-C; Historic Scotland

You can also view an aerial fly-by of the castle (SCRAN - copyright Scottish Media Group)