Muness Castle, Tower house castle in Unst, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom
Muness Castle is a stone tower house located at the southeastern tip of Unst in the Shetland Islands. The building features a rectangular main structure with round towers at opposing corners and small gunloops positioned beneath the windows for defense.
The castle was built in 1598 and experienced a siege in the early 1600s along with attacks from foreign forces in later years. These events shaped how the structure was designed to withstand pressure from various threats over time.
The castle shows how people lived in this remote northern setting and protected their homes from threats. Visitors can still see the rooms where the owner's family stayed and carried out daily tasks.
The castle grounds are open year-round for visitors to walk through and examine the remaining walls and interior spaces. Since the site is remote on the northern island, plan enough travel time to reach it and bring clothing suitable for cool, windy coastal conditions.
The castle once had a formal garden around it, and inside there is a wine cellar and kitchen with an original fireplace that remain visible today. These uncommon interior features offer a glimpse into how the original residents lived in this isolated northern location.
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