![\"Mingary](\"http:\/\/www.csysi.co.uk\/maciain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/1-mingary1.jpg\")
<\/a>Mingary Castle in winter, seen from Rubha Aird an Iasgaich<\/p><\/div>\n
Mingary Castle was built some time between about 1265 and 1295, probably by the MacDougalls when they held Ardnamurchan as part of their Lordship of Lorne. John Sprangach MacDonald, the founder\u00a0of the\u00a0MacIains, received it some time after 1314, and the clan finally lost\u00a0it some 300 years later to the Campbells. By 1838 the castle was derelict, but a major effort to save the MacIains’ castle\u00a0is now in progress. \u00a0This is detailed on the Mingary Castle website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tom Mhic Iain<\/p><\/div>\n Tom Mhic Iain, MacIain’s Knoll, the low hill on the right of this picture, is about 4 kilometres inland from Mingary Castle, near the headwaters of the small burn called the Allt Choire Mhuillinn. \u00a0The lochan nestles beneath its southern slope. It’s a small hill, rising to 277m above sea level. There are no records to explain why the hill and lochan carry the MacIain name, but they must have had great significance with the clan.<\/p>\n View South – Allt Choire Mhuillinn and across the Sound of Mull to Mull<\/p><\/div>\n Tom Mhic Iain has steep slopes all round, a flat summit of diameter 27m, plenty of flat, rolling land around it, a good water supply, and magnificent views in every direction. This picture shows the view looking south, down the valley of the Allt Choire Mhuillinn and across the Sound of Mull to Mull itself; the mountains in the distance are twenty-five miles away.<\/p>\n These features suggest a defensive site, the sort of place an army might have bivouacked for the night before a great battle, with their chief occupying the summit.<\/p>\n Ardnamurchan north coast, MacIains Cave is at centre.<\/p><\/div>\n MacIains Cave lies on the north coast of Ardnamurchan, between the tiny village of Ockle and the narrow glen of the Allt Eilagadale. \u00a0It’s wild but beautiful country, facing out across steep cliffs to the islands of Eigg, Muck and Rum.<\/p>\n The coast here is a series of jagged headlands and rocky bays. \u00a0When the MacIains were driven from their lands in the early part of the 17th century, it is here that they fled. \u00a0The cave must have been their last refuge, a place they retreated to when they were attacked. \u00a0It lies at the back of a small bay, cut into the ancient rocks that form the coastline. \u00a0It’s cramped, damp and cold, but it’s invisible from the landward side, and difficult to climb to from the rocky beach. \u00a0The sea in front of the bay is littered with rocks, so it was protected from attack in that direction.<\/p>\nTom Mhic Iain & Lochan Tom Mhic Iain:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/a>MacIains Cave:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>