Lochnell Castle

Long before the present castle existed, the site was already occupied: in the 6th century a monastic cell associated with Saint Columba stood here, and parts of that early structure survive beneath the later buildings. A medieval chapel was raised behind the site in the 15th century, incorporating the older foundations into its own undercroft and carrying the place's religious use forward for centuries.

In 1587 Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, oversaw the building of Lochnell Castle, with the house itself raised by Sir Duncan Campbell, 7th of Lochnell. From this point the castle became the family seat of Clan Campbell of Lochnell, anchoring the clan's presence on Ardmucknish Bay for generations to come. Between about 1737 and 1739 the castle was substantially altered and enlarged, with a new dwelling-house erected to the south-east of the original building. The addition changed the shape of the residence considerably, setting a pattern of rebuilding that would continue in the centuries that followed.

Around 1818 to 1820 the castle was remodelled once more, this time into a Georgian-style manor house, with General Campbell reportedly spending £15,000 on the enlargement. In the same century a folly known as Lady Margaret's Tower was built on a nearby hilltop within the estate, adding an ornamental landmark to the grounds.

The castle was damaged by fire in the second half of the 19th century, though accounts disagree on exactly when: Cochrane Heritage records a fire in 1859 or 1885, while James Miller's 1877 book placed it in 1850, and the Ancient Yew Group suggests there may have been two or even three separate fires. The building was substantially restored afterwards.

In 1912 the estate was bought by Thomas Cochrane, 13th Earl of Dundonald, bringing it into a new family line. It was requisitioned as a brigade headquarters during the Second World War, and the Cochranes sold the estate in 1949 before buying it back in 1962, restoring their ownership after a gap of thirteen years. Today Lochnell Castle remains a private residence in the hands of Clan Cochrane and the Earl of Dundonald. It is not open to the public, though it now operates as a wedding venue, and, reflecting Thomas Cochrane's ties to Chile, also serves as an Honorary Consulate of Chile. The castle is protected as a Category A Listed Building.