| History & Overview: The estate was once part of the traditional lands of Macdonald of
Sleat and was purchased by the Clan Donald Land Trust in 1971. The Trust has restored the
gardens and part of the Castle and added the magnificent Museum of the Isles as well as
establishing a Visitor Centre and Study Centre. The former seat of the Macdonalds of
Sleat, who with the Macleods of Dunvegan were the hereditary chiefs of the island of Skye,
Armadale Castle (1815) replaced an earlier building on the shore that was visited by Dr
Johnson and James Boswell in 1773. Today the main attractions are the Armadale Castle
Gardens and Museum of the Isles which look out onto the Sound of Sleat at Armadale Bay.
The 16 ha (40 acre ) garden is set within the 8,094 ha (20,000 acre) Armadale Estate and
there are woodland walks in the area. |
