EILEAN DONAN CASTLE
Eilean Donan is named after a Celtic saint who decided to settle in this part of the highlands and live quietly as a hermit. St Donan no doubt had his followers who joined him and lived out their lives in quiet prayer and contemplation on the small island just off the shore near what is now Dornie village.
Eilean Donan Castle was originally a very simple curtain wall fortification with a modest building upon it of stone construction. Over time this fell into total ruin and was reduced to a mere mound of rubble. The many thousands of annual visitors and tourists are I am sure unaware that the present castle is in fact a twentieth century construction and it was rebuilt in an attempt to recreate the original castle. It is assumed that the castle as it is today is a fair interpretation and replica of the original fortress, which stood on the island.
Eilean Donan Castle is for all of this, iconic and perhaps the most recognisable and most used marketing image of the highlands of Scotland. It has been described as the “chocolate box castle” perhaps because the image appears on everything from shortbread boxes to chocolate boxes as well as many other tourist souvenirs, it has in essence become a very Scottish image.
Its location is wonderful, situated just off the main road as it goes north to the Isle of Skye and the Skye Bridge. It is in fact a photographers dream because on the right day with the correct light and the hills and mountains of Skye as the backdrop it is possible to capture the whole scene and a totality, which just portrays “Scotland in all its glory” history and wonderful landscapes.
My images, I hope do justice to this wonderful part of the world.
Eilean Donan Castle was originally a very simple curtain wall fortification with a modest building upon it of stone construction. Over time this fell into total ruin and was reduced to a mere mound of rubble. The many thousands of annual visitors and tourists are I am sure unaware that the present castle is in fact a twentieth century construction and it was rebuilt in an attempt to recreate the original castle. It is assumed that the castle as it is today is a fair interpretation and replica of the original fortress, which stood on the island.
Eilean Donan Castle is for all of this, iconic and perhaps the most recognisable and most used marketing image of the highlands of Scotland. It has been described as the “chocolate box castle” perhaps because the image appears on everything from shortbread boxes to chocolate boxes as well as many other tourist souvenirs, it has in essence become a very Scottish image.
Its location is wonderful, situated just off the main road as it goes north to the Isle of Skye and the Skye Bridge. It is in fact a photographers dream because on the right day with the correct light and the hills and mountains of Skye as the backdrop it is possible to capture the whole scene and a totality, which just portrays “Scotland in all its glory” history and wonderful landscapes.
My images, I hope do justice to this wonderful part of the world.
