Barcaldine Castle, Tower house and category A listed building in Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Barcaldine Castle is a three-storey L-shaped structure with thick walls containing gun ports and four large turrets crowning the roofline. The building has heavily fortified windows and stands as a solid tower house designed for defense.
Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy built this fortress between 1601 and 1609 as a strategic stronghold for his clan in the region. The construction period marked an important time for establishing control and influence in the Scottish Highlands.
The castle connects to Robert Louis Stevenson's novel 'Kidnapped' through a real murder that happened nearby and shaped local identity. This literary link remains part of how visitors understand the place and its surroundings.
The castle sits roughly 9 miles north of Oban and now operates as a guest accommodation with private bathrooms and shared common areas. Being a working bed and breakfast, access depends on booking ahead or current availability.
The castle contains a bottle-shaped dungeon and two hidden passageways tucked within its massive walls. These secret chambers reveal how thoroughly the owners designed defenses into every part of the structure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
