Castles of Clan MacFarlane

Inveruglas Castle (Argyll & Bute)
Inveruglas Castle was the original seat of the chiefs of Clan MacFarlane, built on a small wooded island in Loch Lomond. The 16th-century Z-plan tower house offered a strategic vantage and protection, accessible only by boat or causeway. It served as the clan’s headquarters until it was attacked and burned by Cromwellian forces in the mid-1600s. Though now a roofless ruin, stone walls still stand amid the trees on Inveruglas Isle. The site remains a powerful symbol of the clan’s early strength and maritime heritage.

Eilean I Vow (Loch Lomond)
Eilean I Vow (also spelled Elanvow) became the seat of Clan MacFarlane in 1577 after the destruction of Inveruglas Castle. Located on a small island near the northern end of Loch Lomond, the stone tower house was built by Andrew MacFarlane, 11th chief. Its isolated position made it both secure and iconic, and it hosted royal guests, including King James VI. The castle was abandoned in the 18th century but still retains large sections of its walls. Today it stands as a mossy ruin surrounded by water, commemorating a proud period in MacFarlane history.

Gartartan Castle (Stirling)
Gartartan Castle was the seat of a cadet branch of Clan MacFarlane in the 16th century. Built by the MacFarlanes of Ardleish and Gartartan, the castle stood on the River Forth near Gartmore. Designed in a Z-plan similar to Inveruglas, it provided a defensible stronghold and family residence. The ruins are partially preserved on private land, with towers and wall segments still visible. Gartartan reflects the geographic spread and influence of the wider MacFarlane family network.

Castles Loosely Associated with Clan MacFarlane

Bannachra Castle (Argyll & Bute)
Bannachra Castle, near Glen Fruin, was the site of a violent MacFarlane raid in 1592. The castle, held by the Colquhouns, was attacked and sacked by MacFarlane clansmen in retaliation for a personal feud. Sir Humphrey Colquhoun was killed, and the castle was severely damaged. Although never a MacFarlane residence, the event is a dramatic example of inter-clan conflict. The ivy-covered ruins still stand, bearing witness to the deadly encounter.

Dumbarton Castle (West Dunbartonshire)
Dumbarton Castle sits atop a volcanic rock and served as the historic seat of the Earls of Lennox, from whom Clan MacFarlane descends. In the 16th century, a MacFarlane laird took part in an attempted assault on the castle during a regional uprising. The effort failed, but the clan’s role underscores their historic claim to Lennox heritage. The castle’s formidable gatehouse and cliffs still dominate the landscape. Though not a MacFarlane seat, it is deeply tied to their ancestral identity.

References

Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle Records and Listings.
Clan MacFarlane Heritage Trust. (n.d.). MacFarlane History and Strongholds.
RCAHMS. (n.d.). National Monuments Record of Scotland.