Inveruglas Isle Castle

Heritage listing

Date Added 08/12/2000 Type Secular: tower Local Authority Argyll And Bute Parish Arrochar NGR NN 32272 09572 Coordinates 232272, 709572 — The monument consists of the remains of a Z-plan tower situated on Inveruglas Isle, off the west shore of Loch Lomond. On the island there are also the remains of a substantial jetty and other buildings which may be associated with the castle. Inveruglas Castle was the principal seat of the Clan Macfarlane. The castle is believed to have been abandoned and partial destroyed during the Commonwealth (1649-1660) by Cromwellian Troops. The tower measures overall 12m E-W by 9.5m N-S with round towers on the NE and SW angles. The structure now only stands to first floor height. The castle is of two main phases; the original structure was a simple oblong tower to which the corner towers were later added. The alterations probably took place in the latter half of the 16th century in an attempt to modernise the castle. The castle is simply but well constructed in random rubble roughly brought to courses and with small quoins. The castle is partly built on bedrock outcrops, which have been incorporated into the walls of the castle. Due to the destruction of the upper floors of the castle, there are few notable features. There is no evidence that the ground floor was vaulted, or that there was a ground floor entrance. At first floor level in the main block there is evidence of a fireplace midway along the S wall. The SW tower has the remains of an opening, probably a window, at first floor level. The only other features are numerous small rectangular openings that pierce the two angle towers at ground and first floor. They appear to be crude gun ports. To the E of the tower, there are two buildings. The E of these is a rectangular stone structure

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.