Dunoon Castle
Until the 19th Century, when tourism came to Dunoon. this tiny village lay clustered peacefully round its castle, which from the 11th Century had been the seat of the High Stewards of Scotland. After the accession of the Stewarts to the Scottish throne Dunoon Castle became Crown property and was given to the Campbells of Lochow, ancestors of the Duke of Argyll, who were appointed hereditary keepers. Mary, Queen of Scots visited Dunoon to see her favourite sister. Lady Jane Stewart, a natural daughter of James V and first wife of Archibald, Earl of Argyll. In 1646 the Campbells massacred the Laments at Dunoon, after a raid by the Campbells on Lament territories. They burnt Toward Castle and took several hundred prisoners, murdering most of them and taking the rest back to Dunoon, where 36 were hanged on one tree alone. Shortly afterwards the Earls of Argyll moved their seat to Inverary, and Dunoon was left abandoned to fall into ruins.
Return To Tour Dunoon
