Lochranza Castle (1)
I have photographed Lochranza Castle before, in 2010, but as I have a bit of time before the ferry back to Claonaig arrives, and as it was a bit 'misty moisty' the last time I was here, I have taken some more.  

There has been a castle here at Lochranza from early times.  Loch Ranza of course, was a superb sheltered anchorage for galleys, and with some flat land in the glen behind for keeping cattle, would have been an attractive lordship to own and protect.  It was also superbly sited for controlling the extensive network of sea-lochs that open northwards off the upper Clyde.

This area was largely ruled by the Norse until the 13th century.  Lochranza was owned by the same Sweyn (Sween) that owned and built, together with his son Dugald MacSween, Skipness Castle, which is just across Kilbrannan Sound on Kintyre, and of course, Castle Sween (that I visited the day before yesterday).  Lochranza and Skipness Castles were originally of very similar design.

In 1266, Norway sold the Western Isles to King Alexander III, which appears to have ended the influence of the MacSweens in the area.  Alexander granted Lochranza (and Skipness, as we have seen previously) to Walter Stewart, Earl of Menteith.  His descendant eventually inherited the Scottish throne, which meant that Lochranza technically became a 'Royal castle', although it was seldom used as such. 
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