Inverlochy Castle
Inverlochy
remained an
important castle
after the
forfeiture of the
Comyns, and
was later held by
the Gordon Earls
of Huntly, who
were granted it in
1506 with
permission to
strengthen its
defenses and outworks. Some of the additions made around the landward gate may
date from this time.
Inverlochy Castle differs from other west highland early stone castles in its level site,
which allowed the layout of a quadrangular courtyard with its circular tower at each
corner (unlike, for example, Dunstaffnage Castle, the walls of which follow the edges
of the rock on which it sits). It was surrounded on three sides by a now silted up
ditch, and the fourth side was protected by the River Lochy. The west tower is larger
than the others and was used as a 'Donjon' or Lords residence, with its hall on the
first floor and his private rooms above. As is usual in such cases, it was placed, for
safety, in the most inaccessible part of the site, by the river. The towers have stairs
curving round within the thickness of the walls; in the north tower survives a narrow
slit window and a 'fish-tail' base. Both these features can be found in 13th century
work at Dunstaffnage.
The accommodation within the towers would have been supplemented with buildings
of fairly light construction, within the courtyard, mostly built against the curtain walls.
The wall-walks has parapets on both sides, and were no doubt covered to protect
the defenders: the battlements on the southwest wall date from c.1905, but the
original surface of the wall-walk survives there and elsewhere around the circuit. It
does not survive above either of the gateways, but here there would have been
winches by which the portcullises (traces for the slot for a portcullis are visible at
each gate) could be lowered, although there are no signs that the elaborate
gatehouse, for example, at Kildrummy Castle was intended at either gate.
The senior branch of the Comyn family, the Red Comyns, held the Lordship of
Lochaber from at least the 1230's. The Red Comyns, and their cousins, the Black
Comyns, were prominent supporters of John Balliol as king, and - especially after his
killing of John (the Red) Comyn in the church of the Franciscan Friary at Dumfries in
1306, bitter opponents of King Robert Bruce, who defeated them in a pitched battle
at Inverurie in 1308.
King Robert Bruce, in ordering the destruction of all castles that might fall into
English hands, seems to have excluded a number of castles in the west Highlands.
Not many castles survive from before the wars with England between 1296-1357,
and of those that do, Inverlochy is one of the best examples.
