Take the private track signposted Adrnamurchan Estate Mingary House, off the B8007 and park at the designated car park and follow the footpath to the Castle

The grassy footpath follows a drystone wall on the right, and is bounded by a post and wire fence of the left. The footpath goes through rough grassland and can be very muddy - so be prepared!

Pass through a metal gate and walk around the edge of the field to a

second gate and skirt around the second field, heading towards the Castle.

It is not possible to gain access to the Castle, but you can examine the south curtain wall and the rock-cut ditch through the wire fencing.

The rest of the castle can be best seen from the shingle beach by taking the path over a stile on the west side of field and following it down to the beach.  The path descends fairly steeply, so take care not to slip on the wet rocky path.  The shingle beach, allows you to really take in the splendour of Mingary Castle.

~ History ~

1200's ~ Clan MacIan's of Ardnamurchan build themselves a fortress designed to control the Strait of Mull and Loch Sunart, which are of strategic importance.

1493 ~ With the castle's now connection with Clan MacDonald Lord of the Isles, Mingary is twice conquered by King James IV. It is then used as a base for the king's army against the MacDonal's.

1515 ~ Mingary is unsuccessfully besieged by an army of MacDonald's of Lochalsh.

1517 ~ The MacDonalds return to successfully take Mingary Castle which is heavily damaged as a result.

1550's ~ MacIan's are strongly involved on the side of the MacDonald's in their conflict with the clan MacLean of Duart.

1588 ~ The head of the clan MacIan's is captured and imprisoned in the castle Duart Sir Lachlan'a Mor Maclean. Shortly afterwards the  MacLean's help Spanish soldiers and crew of the ship "San Juan de silici", part of the Spanish Great Armada, attacked Mingary Castle. The three-day siege, however, does not bring the expected effect.

1612 ~ The castle is captured by the troops of Clan Campbell, enemy and arch rivals to the MacDonald's.

1644 ~ During the War of the Three Kingdoms Mingary Castle remains in the hands of the Campbells but is captured by Sir Alasdair'a MacDonald.

1651 ~ The castle is returned into the hands of Archibald Campbell, Marquis of Argyll.

1740's ~ During the Jacobite rebellion Mingary Castle is occupied by government troops. The castle remains in government hands until finally abandoned into disrepair some hundred years later.