Duart Castle

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Overview

Duart would not be the fine castle it is today had it not been for the determination and foresight of Sir Fitzroy Maclean, 14th Baronet and great-grandfather of the present clan chief. Sir Fitzroy was only a boy when he saw the ruined Duart Castle for the first time and reputedly uttered the words, ‘It is going to be my life’s ambition to restore the castle as a family home and headquarters of the clan.’ This he achieved, with the aid of Scottish architect Sir John Burnet, at the age of 76. Today, members of the Maclean Clan travel from all over the world to visit the ancestral home. Sir Fitzroy, a veteran of the Crimea, died a centenarian in 1936. Earliest records suggest that the castle dates from the mid-13th century, since when the Clan Maclean have endured a colourful and sometimes bloody existence on Mull. The castle today contains much memorabilia, including some horn snuffboxes and an 18th-century horn container for wig powder. The banqueting hall, where the walls are 23 feet thick in places, contains some family portraits and three regimental flags. The stateroom is furnished as it was for the honeymoon of Lord Maclean and his bride (parents of the present clan chief) during World War II.

Features

Opening Times
Opening Times: Open Apr, Sun-Thu 11-4; May-Oct, daily 10.30-5

Facilities
Parking onsite
Cafe

Children

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Location

CRAIGNURE, PA64 6AP

About the area

This is a county that’s all about awe-inspiring landscapes and unique island cultures. Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney put the area on the map when he wrote Mull of Kintyre, recorded in 1977 with the local pipe band backing his group.