A track from
the car park climbs gradually uphill to the rocky knoll on which this grey tower stands,
commanding views of Kilmartin Glen. The tower, which was built as one despite looking as
though it was extended, has interesting stringcourses, corbels and a carved panel over the
re-entrant doorway. The ground floor had the kitchen, with a large fire and unusual water
inlet and oven. The well is in the base of the tower. Spiral stairs climb up through the
building at each end, but the floors have gone. Nevertheless, the wall-head walk is
accessible, where Victorian graffiti and mason’s marks can be seen. The castle has
seven bedrooms, and the withdrawing room has an ornate fireplace.
John
Carswell, who was granted the Protestant Bishopric of the Isles in 1567 and was translator
of Knox’s Liturgy into Gaelic, built the castle in the 1560s. The castle passed to
the Campbells of Auchinbreck in 1572; an old gateway to the orchard is dated 1681 with Sir
Dougal Campbell’s initials. He joined the Earl of Argyll in the Monmouth Rising of
1685 with the consequence that Carnasserie was blown up by the Royalist forces under
MacLaine of Torloisk. |
