Carnasserie Castle
Carnasserie Castle is one of Argyll’s most impressive Renaissance‑style tower houses, built in the 1560s for Bishop John Carswell, a key figure in the Scottish Reformation. Unlike many Highland fortresses, Carnasserie was designed more for status than defence, and an interesting fact is that Carswell published the first book printed in Gaelic — Foirm na h‑Urrnuidh — while living here, linking the castle to a major cultural milestone. Inside the ruins, visitors can explore the remarkably tall tower house, whose elegant architectural details hint at its once‑refined interiors. The great hall, with its large windows and carved stone features, reveals how Carnasserie blended comfort with prestige. Stairways lead to upper floors where fragments of fireplaces and chambers help reconstruct the castle’s domestic life. One of the most striking features is the entrance inscription praising Carswell’s patron, the Earl of Argyll — a rare surviving example of Renaissance political messaging carved directly into a castle façade. The surrounding courtyard contains traces of outbuildings and defensive walls, offering a sense of the wider estate.
Kilmartin Scotland
Carnasserie Castle is in the countryside just north of Kilmartin in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. You will find it at Carnasserie, Kilmartin, Lochgilphead PA31 8RQ, right off the A816 road that runs between Oban and Lochgilphead. It stands on a small hill with great views over Kilmartin Glen, so you can spot it easily from the road. This area is one of the best places in Scotland if you like history. Just down the road is the village of Kilmartin with the excellent Kilmartin Museum, which covers thousands of years of history from the glen, plus the old Kilmartin Parish Church with its collection of carved stones. The whole glen is full of ancient cairns, standing stones and rock carvings you can walk to. A short drive away you have Dunadd Fort, the ancient crowning place of the kings of Dal Riata, with amazing views from the top. If you want more castles, Castle Sween on the shore of Loch Sween is not far, and heading east you can reach Inveraray with Inveraray Castle and the old jail museum. The Crinan Canal and the pretty village of Crinan are also close by for a boat trip or a waterside walk.
Museum