Carnasserie Castle

Carnasserie Castle is a ruined 16th-century tower house located in western Scotland. It was built by John Carswell, the Rector of Kilmartin and Chancellor of the Chapel Royal at Stirling, who also published the first book to be printed in Scottish Gaelic. The castle was intended as a personal residence for Carswell, but upon his death in 1572, it passed to the Earl of Argyll. In 1643, it was sold to Donald Campbell of Auchinleck, whose successor Duncan Campbell supported Argyll’s Rising against James VII in 1685. The castle was never rebuilt after being burned down in the Atholl Raid that followed the failure of the Rising, and it remains in ruins today, protected as a scheduled monument. It is open to the public and is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. The castle is known for its unusual plan and renaissance detailing, and it has only been slightly altered since its construction in the 16th century. It consists of a 5-storey tower house and a 3-storey hall house, and features decorative features such as “double keyhole” gunloops and carved drain spouts. It also has a partially walled courtyard garden.