A thirteenth-century castle and old chapel on the Kintyre shore, looking across the sound to Arran
Open to visitorsa Historic Environment Scotland site — many are free to wander; staffed ones charge and keep set hours
Substantial ruinsruined, but plenty survives above ground
Skipness stands near the north-east tip of Kintyre, a walled castle with a tower house (a tall fortified house) built into one corner, looking out over Kilbrannan Sound to the hills of North Arran. The MacSweens raised the first castle here in the 1200s; it later passed to the MacDonald Lords of the Isles and then to the Campbells, and the tall tower house was added as those families rebuilt for comfort as well as defence. A short walk off stands the ruined Kilbrannan Chapel, dedicated to St Brendan, with old carved grave-slabs among the walls. Historic Environment Scotland looks after both, near the village of Skipness and a mile or so off the Kintyre Way.
