Caisteal Maol / Isle of Skye *
Region: Isle of Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh
Caisteal Maol. Courtesy of Helen Charnley Ede
Description:
The very much ruined castle of Caisteal Maol, built by the MacKinnon's in the late fifteenth century, sits on a headland above the village of Kyleakin on the east coast of the Isle of Skye across the bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh.
During the late middle ages the castle was known as 'Dunakin'. The western isles of Scotland formed part of the Norse-Gael Kingdom of Mann and the Isles and had strong links to Norway. In 1263 the Norwegian King Haakon sailed with his fleet through the narrows to "meet" King Alexander III of Scotland at the Battle of Largs.