Castles · Central Scotland
Castle Sween
In or near Achahoish.
Castle Sween — stone castle on the eastern shore of Loch Sween, Knapdale.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Castle Sween, you can use the postcode PA31 8PT for your sat-nav. Entry is free, but please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited.
About
Castle Sween is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Owned by Historic Environment Scotland. Managed by Historic Environment Scotland. Wikidata describes it as: "stone castle on the eastern shore of Loch Sween, Knapdale". Coordinates: 55.9479°, -5.6654°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Castle Sween, also known as Caisteal Suibhne, and Caistéal Suibhne, is located on the eastern shore of Loch Sween, in Knapdale, south of the forestry village of Achnamara on the west coast of Argyll, Scotland. Castle Sween is thought to be one of the earliest stone castles built in Scotland, having been built in the late 11th century. The castle's towers were later additions to wooden structures which have since vanished.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From Historic Environment Scotland
Castle Sween is thought to be the oldest castle in mainland Scotland, stronghold of Suibhne ‘the Red’ and the MacDonald Lords of the Isles. Contact us today for more information.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Castle Sween, also known as Caisteal Suibhne, and Caistéal Suibhne, is located on the eastern shore of Loch Sween, in Knapdale, south of the forestry village of Achnamara on the west coast of Argyll, Scotland. Castle Sween is thought to be one of the earliest stone castles built in Scotland, having been built in the late 11th century. The castle's towers were later additions to wooden structures which have since vanished.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Castle Sween is the oldest stone castle in Scotland, built in the late 11th century by Suibhne, son of Hugh Anrahan, brother of the king of Ulster and High King of Ireland, from whom it takes its name Suibhne. As late as the thirteenth century, the MacSweens possessed the surrounding lands of Knapdale. However, by the second half of the century, these territories passed into the hands of the Stewart/Menteith family. In 1490, Castle Sween was granted to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll, by James IV, King of Scotland. In 1647, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Castle Sween was attacked and burnt by Alasdair MacColla and his Irish Confederate followers. Currently Castle Sween is under…
Visiting
Castle Sween was featured in the 2021 Starz TV series Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip With Sam and Graham (from Outlander) episode 7 "Clans and Tartans".
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.9479, -5.6654
- District
- Argyll and Bute
- Postcode
- PA31 8PT
- Parliamentary constituency
- Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
- Opening
- Open all year round
- Official site
- www.historicenvironment.scot
Sources
- wikidata: Q3174 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Castle Sween (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Castle Sween - geograph.org.uk - 220264.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Castle Sween Holiday Park
Caravan parks · 0.2 km
Dun a'Chaisteil, dun site
Archaeological sites · 0.9 km
Island of Danna
Islands · 1.6 km
Clach-dhruim Mòr
Mountains & hills · 1.7 km
Cnoc Stighseir
Mountains & hills · 2.0 km
Druim Buidhe
Mountains & hills · 2.4 km
Druim Mor
Mountains & hills · 2.4 km
Druim Mòr
Mountains & hills · 2.4 km
Loch Sween
Castles · 2.6 km
Keills Cross (replica)
Memorials & monuments · 2.7 km
Keillmore
Villages · 2.8 km
Keills Chapel
Chapels · 2.8 km
Nearby
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Castle Sween Holiday Park
Castle Sween Holiday Park — a caravan park in scotland highlands.
📷 3Archaeological sites · Central Scotland
Dun a'Chaisteil, dun site
Dun a'Chaisteil, dun site — a archaeological in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
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Island of Danna
Island of Danna in Inner Hebrides + Skye, United Kingdom.
📷 5Mountains & hills · Central Scotland
Clach-dhruim Mòr
Clach-dhruim Mòr — mountain in scotland highlands. Elevation: 291 m.
📷 5Mountains & hills · Central Scotland
Cnoc Stighseir
Cnoc Stighseir — mountain in scotland highlands. Elevation: 241 m.
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Druim Buidhe
Druim Buidhe — mountain in scotland highlands. Elevation: 309 m.
Where to eat & stay near Castle Sween
Places to stay
📷 5Caravan parks · Central Scotland
Castle Sween Holiday Park
Castle Sween Holiday Park — a caravan park in scotland highlands.
📷 5Campsites · Central Scotland
Leachive Caravan Park
Leachive Caravan Park — a campsite in scotland highlands.
📷 5Campsites · Central Scotland
Port Bàn Holiday Park
Port Bàn Holiday Park — a campsite in scotland highlands.
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Lochgilphead Caravan Park
Lochgilphead Caravan Park — a campsite in scotland highlands.
📷 3Campsites · Central Scotland
Tarbert Holiday Park
Tarbert Holiday Park — a campsite in scotland highlands.
📷 5Campsites · Central Scotland
Jura Hotel campsite
Jura Hotel campsite — a campsite in scotland highlands.
Places to eat & drink
📷 7Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Cairnbaan Hotel, Crinan Canal
Cairnbaan Hotel, Crinan Canal in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
More places run by Historic Environment Scotland
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More castles in this region
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Achallader Castle
Achallader Castle — castle in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Castle Sween?
- Castle Sween is in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (postcode PA31 8PT).
- What is Castle Sween?
- Castle Sween — stone castle on the eastern shore of Loch Sween, Knapdale.
- How do I get to Castle Sween?
- Drivers can use postcode PA31 8PT.
- Who runs Castle Sween?
- Castle Sween is operated by Historic Environment Scotland.
- Is Castle Sween a listed building?
- Castle Sween is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Is Castle Sween free to visit?
- Yes, Castle Sween is free to enter.
- How do I get to Castle Sween?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode PA31 8PT. It sits within the Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber parliamentary constituency.