Mingary Castle: March 2016

Saturday, 12 March 2016

Are we nearly there yet?!

So first I must start with an apology that this is the first blog in two weeks. It has been a very busy two weeks, launching our new website www.mingarycastle.com and making bookings LIVE! Plus starting the long but VERY enjoyable task of turning the inside from building site to luxury hotel. I thought I would share the progress so far......

The sitting room is coming together and will be a wonderful place to unwind with a good book or enjoy your canapés before going downstairs to dinner.

The MacIain is the master bedroom in the North Range, it comes with its own dressing room and a sumptuous 4 poster bed.

Those who have been following the restoration blog will recognise the MacIain's bathroom with its splendid copper bath - it also has a shower for those not wishing to go for a swim.

The MacDougall is the smallest of the rooms but still has plenty of space to swing a cat. But you have to watch your head as you go through a wee door into the best bathroom in the castle (in my opinion).......

.....as the MacDougall bathroom is built in the inter-muriel passage way. It's two arrow slot windows look North over the garden and there is even a seat in the shower where supposedly there was an old alter was found, giving it its nickname 'The Chapel' bathroom.

Up on the top floor of the castle is the McCain Suite, named in thanks to Mr McCain who generously made a substantial donation to the Mingary Castle Restoration and Preservation Trust, we are looking forward to welcoming him and his family to stay in May. This room is know as McCain East .............

......which shares this wonderful bathroom with..........

McCain West. The additional perks with this Suite is the views out across to Mull and the joy of having the top battlements all to yourself. The West range is still being used for Sandra's sewing room but hopefully I will be able to share photos of that soon.

Also we will be starting to blog more frequently on www.mingarycastle.com/blog.html where will be focusing on the suppliers, local activities and events happening at the Castle - so I hope you will check that out from time to time too.

The Mingary Castle Preservation and Restoration Trust

"The most intact thirteenth century castle in Scotland" is how archaeologist Tom Addyman describes Mingary Castle. Seat of Clan MacIain, commanding the sea route through the Sound of Mull, Mingary dates back to the thirteenth century and may be much older - there is some evidence, not least from the name, that the Vikings fortified the site. However, since it was last inhabited in the mid-nineteenth century, the castle has been deteriorating. A recent survey showed that, unless urgent restoration work was carried out, the castle was in danger of collapse.

The Mingary Castle Preservation and Restoration Trust, which is Scottish registered charity SC043705, was set up in 2013 to address this problem. Work started on the site in April 2013, and it is hoped to have the building fully restored to its mediaeval grandeur by the end of 2014.

Mingary Castle stands on Ardnamurchan Estate land, near the village of Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Donald Houston, who owns the Estate and is responsible for the upcoming work on the castle, is determined that the many written records that are being prepared as part of the work should be fully available to the public on-line. This will be done through the main Mingary Castle website, of which this blog will be a part.

Businesses Involved in the Project