Clan Campbell
in Breadalbane, ScotlandClan Campbell
in Breadalbane, ScotlandClan Campbell is one of the most ancient clans of Scotland, it's origins being in Clan Alpin, named after Kenneth MacAlpin who was the first ancient king of the early united Scotland. The Campbells were a powerful Clan with a burning desire to expand their lands, indeed the ambition of the 16c Black Duncan Campbell of the cowl was to be able to travel on his own lands from the east to the west coast of Scotland. It was an ambition he achieved to the cost of many of his neighbours. The Campbells acquired their lands mainly through guile and legal process, largely with the support of some of Scotlands kings. It was the Campbells who hounded the MacGregors, the McEwans and many other unfortunate clans to the verge of extinction.
The Campbells were also great castle builders, owning at one stage castles spread over the full width of Scotland, included were: Dunstafnage and Barcaldine near Oban, Kilchurn on Loch Awe, Lock Dochart Castle, Finlarig at Killin, Ardeonaig castle on Loch Tay and Balloch castle (later known as Taymouth) at Kenmore.
The name Breadalbane refers mainly to the lands owned by the Campbells from Oban to Aberfeldy. The Name Breadalbane derives from the old celtic words signifying "high Albane" or "the high part of Scotland in the kingdom of Albany". The area is steeped in history, much of it recorded in ancient records, much recorded in ancient pictish carvings and before that, evidence of early occupation lies in 'cup and ring' markings which are found carved in the rocks all over Breadalbane. For those wishing to read more of Breadalbane, copies of a book named "in Famed Breadalbane", written by James Gillies, a parish minister in the early 20th can be found in public libraries in; Killin, Callander and Stirling.
Barcaldine, the "Black Castle" of Benderloch is one of the few mediaeval castles in Scotland which is still habitable and which appears practically unchanged. Throughout its 400 year existence, Barcaldine has been a military outpost, a dwelling house, a ruin and now, in the 21st century, a place of interest for visitors to the area to enjoy.
Barcaldine owes its
position to a design for defence. The builder was Sir Duncan Campbell, seventh Knight of
Glenorchy, known to this day as Black Duncan of the Cowl. In Argyll, where turbulence and
lawlessness had followed the break-up of the Lordship of the Isles, the hierarchy
abolished by James IV in 1493. It was during this period of lawlessness that Sir Duncan
Campbell came to power. He was a very vigorous and forceful character with ambition.
Sir Duncan’s lands stretched from Barcaldine in the west to Taymouth Castle on Loch Tay in the east. Not surprisingly, such a wide distribution of property was extremely difficult to control and protect. To this end, Sir Duncan built a string of seven castles. Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe was repaired, as was Taymouth Castle, formally known as Balloch at the east end of Loch Tay. Edinample Castle at the west end of Loch Earn, Achallader at the head of Glenorchy, Finlarig at the west end of Loch Tay and the island Castle on Loch Dochart made up the rest. The building of Barcaldine, derived from the Gaelic "Ban a challtuin" meaning hazel knoll, was begun between 1591 and 1601. Its construction was recorded in the "Black Book of Taymouth", one of the most informative books of the period Black Duncan installed his third son, John of Auchinryre, to look after the newly erected castle.
Barcaldine Castle is built on the "L" plan with the smaller wing on the south side projecting to the west beyond the end part of the main wall of the castle. This projection enabled the main wall to be protected and covered with small arms. The walls are approximately 9 feet thick, thus allowing the stair passage inside them, and rise to approximately 32 feet.
Facts:
To see Edinample castle, take the unclassified South Lochearn road at the old
church just south of Lochearnhead. About 800 yards down this road you 
will see the rear of Edinample. Edinample castle is
privately owned and is not open to the public.
For a more picturesque view, return to the main road, turn right to Locheamhead, right
again and drive 800 yds down the north side of Lochearn. You can now see Edinample across
the loch
Some facts
The castle is inaccessible on an island). If you want to see it, it is 6 miles to the west of Lix Toll neat Killin. Just past Benmore farm, Loch Dochart Castle is on a wooded island on loch Dochart on the right.
Facts:
Drive east through Killin, and 400 yds past the Killin hotel you will see a
bridge on the right just before the caravan site . Cross the bridge and in 250 yds, on the
left, you'll see a wooded knoll. The Castle is on the knoll. 
The picture shows the castle near the end of the 19th c before the
present neglect allowed it to fall into ruin..
Finlarig was built in the early 1600s by Black Duncan of GlenOrchy, probably the
most feared of the acquisitious Campbell clan. He also built a chapel where the ruins of
the mausoleum stand to the east of the castle on the mound. The mausoleum was built by the
Campbells ( of Breadalbane) in the early 1800s. If you walk up to the castle, then face
towards the mausoleum ruins, you'll see two gravestones side by side to the left. These
stones mark the resting place of the Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane - the last of
the Campbell line and descendants of Black Duncan - who built this castle and the first
mausoleum (also in ruins) behind the graves. (Don't miss the beheading pit to the north
side of the castle - grizzly!)
Take care these ruins are dangerous
Driving east from Coshieville, after about 2 miles, take the next on the right over a little bridge and is on your left over the bridge.
This castle
is in a private garden.
Facts:
Three miles east of Coshieville, one mile west of Aberfeldy and on the north side of
the road, you will see the castle ac
ross the field.
Facts:-