📌 Acharacle, Highland
★★★
Castle Tioram is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s special castles. The name (which is pronounced cheerum) translates as dry castle – appropriate since the building sits on a island linked to mainland Moidart by a narrow causeway that floods at each high tide. Probably originally a stronghold of Clan MacRuari, parts of the pentagonal ruin date back to the 1200s despite numerous subsequent alterations. At first glance it seems to have withstood the tests of west coast weather fairly well, however, its current biggest threat is in fact manmade. A long disagreement between the owners (who want to modernise the castle) and Historic Environment Scotland (which has refused permission) has resulted in a standoff during which the interior has become increasingly unstable, with access inside now blocked off. Nevertheless the exterior more than warrants a visit, coupled with an exquisitely beautiful setting amidst Loch Moidart, its scattered islands and the spectacular Silver Walk.
🌍 Location
📌 Access from minor road end 3 mi north of Acharacle
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NM 662724
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.784590,-5.828850
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park at 🧭 NM 664720 / 🛰️ 56.780935,-5.825142
📝 Key info
⌚ Always viewable except at high tide
🎫 Free
💬 From the car park it’s a 5-min walk to the castle, north around the bay on a clear path then across the sandy, tidal causeway (usually only floods at the very top of the tide).
