Lochranza Castle (2)
Inner Loch Ranza is tidal, and is almost separated from outer Loch Ranza by a spit of land that sticks out half way across the bay.  Lochranza Castle is built on the shingle of this spit of land. 

The original entrance to the castle was in the east end of the main block - the shadowed opening visible here.  It was accessed via a removable timber stair.  The entrance opened onto a flight of stairs contained within the east wall, from where you could have gone down to the ground floor or up to the 1st floor.  Most of the main block's 1st floor was taken up by the Hall, the remainder containing the kitchen, with a service hatch between the two.  When the castle was modified and a new and more convenient ground floor doorway added, the 'quality' would have used the west side turnpike stair to reach the Hall, leaving the old straight stair within the east wall, for the cooks and bottlewashers to get between the kitchen and the store rooms in the cellars.  In later times, this mural stairway was blocked up completely, the top end of it being converted into a garderobe.
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