Scotland's most beautiful castle recreated from a strange dream.

When mentioning Scotland's most famous castles, people often immediately think of Edinburgh Castle or Balmoral Castle. Eilean Donan may not be as famous, but its beauty is undeniable. Considered Scotland's most beautiful castle, it appears on numerous postcards, calendars, and the covers of travel guides.

With its weather-beaten walls, situated at the high tide mark on the island and spanned by a stone bridge, this castle is the perfect symbol of romantic medieval life.

This castle would have looked completely different if it hadn't been restored in the 20th century to its glorious romantic beauty – and miraculously, it was built in part based on the vivid dreams of the stonemasons.

Otter Island

The story surrounding Eilean Donan Castle is as romantic as the castle itself. Legend says that both the island and the castle were named in the 7th century after a Celtic Catholic saint named Donnán. He attracted many followers and was martyred in 617 when pirates beheaded him along with 52 disciples during a religious service.

Another story relates to the creatures of the lake, where visitors often spot otters or dolphins in the distance. According to legend, the name Eilean Donan Castle originates from a Gaelese word meaning "brown dog" (cu-donn), which was also the name of the otter king. When the otter king died, he was buried on the island, and the castle was later built on his grave.

Defensive purpose

Setting aside the legend, what we know is that the castle was built in the 13th century as a fortress against Viking pirates coming from the sea. At that time, the Norwegians controlled the nearby Hebrides islands and often made incursions deep into the mainland. It is said that King Alexander II of Scotland, in order to defend the area, ordered the construction of Eilean Donan Castle to strengthen the small, tidal island surrounding it.

Parts of the castle from its early days are still clearly visible – such as the wall on the right side of the grounds. But much of the castle's medieval history, including its ancient origins, remains a mystery.

Strange architecture

One of the most striking architectural features on the island is the fortifications, later added to Eilean Donan Castle in the 1500s. These structures, housing cannons, serve as a reminder that, however beautiful the castle may look today, it was clearly built for military purposes in the past. Facing the mainland and surrounded by a lake, the gun emplacements made the castle virtually impregnable.

From rebellion to ruin

In fact, one of the most clearly documented periods of Eilean Donan Castle's history is the period of its near-total destruction. In 1719, during a simmering rebellion against the British monarchy, the castle briefly served as a stronghold for the Spanish garrison supporting the Jacobite movement. After a soldier fired on the British, ships bombarded the castle to the point of almost complete destruction. What remained was a dilapidated structure, with no trace of its former mighty stronghold.

The castle would have remained in a state of perpetual disrepair if the Macrae-Gilstrap family hadn't bought it in 1911. Initially, they intended to keep the castle in its original state. But later, they hired Farquhar MacRae, a local man, to clean up and renovate it.

The story goes that, before starting the job, Farquhar had a strange dream. He saw an image of the castle at its peak of glory, with its grounds and towers appearing in extremely clear detail.

Magnificent scenery

It is said that Farquhar's dream shaped the restoration of the castle. During an architectural survey in 1714, it was discovered that, after nearly 16 years of construction, the castle resembled Farquhar's dream remarkably closely.

But the truth is a little less glamorous. In reality, the 20th-century restoration was far more thorough and romantic than the original architectural survey of the medieval castle in the 18th century, leading architectural historian John Gifford to call it "an Edwardian restoration of a medieval structure."

But not all changes made during the restoration process were solely for decorative purposes.

Bridge

The castle was originally built on a tidal island at the confluence of three lakes: Duich, Long, and Alsh. This meant that the castle could only be accessed by boat at high tide. In reality, the original castle should have had a water gate – meaning most people would have entered and exited the castle via the lake, a less common mode of transportation in the Middle Ages when roads were scarce.

When it was rebuilt, the circumstances were no longer the same as before. Therefore, the project was quite practical; while preserving the beauty of the castle, a bridge was added.

Inspired by the island

Sadly, Farquhar died before he could see his dream fulfilled. But perhaps he never foresaw how famous the restored castle would become – no matter how accurately the restoration process is recorded in history.

Many years later, this castle appeared in numerous films, such as the James Bond movies.The world is not enough.(1999) andElizabeth: The Golden Age(2007). Most famously, the castle served as inspiration for Pixar Studios to produce the film.Brave(2012).

Huong Thao