View source for Dunscaith Castle

{{Short description|Castle in Highland, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Campaignbox Clan MacLeod-Clan MacDonald feuds}}
[[File:Dunscaith Castle.jpeg|thumb|Dunscaith Castle]]
[[File:Dunscaith Castle - geograph.org.uk - 218475.jpg|thumb|View from below.]]
'''Dunscaith Castle''' also known as '''Dun Scaich''', '''Dun Sgathaich Castle''' and '''Tokavaig''', is a ruined [[castle]] on the coast of the Isle of [[Skye]], in the north-west of [[Scotland]]. It is located in the Parish of [[Sleat]], in the [[Highland (council area)|Highland]] council area, and in the former county of [[Inverness-shire]], at {{gbmapping|NG595120}}. Also called "'''Fortress of Shadows'''", it is the legendary home of the warrior maiden [[Scáthach]], after whom it is named.<ref>Whitley Stokes, ‘The Training of Cúchulainn’, Revue Celtique, 29 (1908), 109–52;</ref><ref>"Sgàthaich" is "Scáthach" in the genitive case and Scottish Gaelic spelling</ref> It is protected as a [[scheduled monument]].<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM954|desc=Dun Scaich,castle,Tokavaig|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>

==History==
The castle itself sits on an off-shore rock. The rock rises {{convert|40|ft|m|0|abbr=off}} above sea level and there is a gap of {{convert|20|ft|m|0|abbr=off}} between the rock and the mainland. The gap was once spanned by a walled bridge with arches {{convert|6|ft|m|1|abbr=off|spell=in}} apart. This stone walled bridge then led onto a drawbridge, the pivot holes for which are still visible on the far side. Once on the other side of the drawbridge a door opened to a flight of stairs which was also sided by two walls. The flight of stairs led up to the castle.

Parts of the castle curtain wall still survive on the cliff edge but most of the inner buildings have gone. The curtain wall was about {{convert|5|ft|m|1|abbr=off|spell=in}} thick. In the courtyard is a well and the remains of a stairway which once led up a tower.

At some point, the castle belonged to the [[Clan MacDonald of Sleat]], a branch of the [[Clan Donald]] or MacDonald. In the 14th century it was taken from them by the [[Clan MacLeod]] and held briefly by the MacAskills, allies of the MacLeods but it was recaptured by the MacDonalds sometime in the 15th century.

In the 15th century the castle was again captured by King [[James IV of Scotland]] when the Chief of the [[Clan Donald]], [[Lord of the Isles]] was broken by King James IV. The MacDonalds were allowed to keep possession of the castle. The MacDonalds abandoned the castle in the early 17th century, after which it slowly fell into ruin.

==Legend==
The castle is featured in the [[Ulster Cycle]] of [[Irish mythology]] as the place where [[Scáthach]] the Shadow, legendary [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[warrior]] woman and [[martial arts]] teacher, trained the hero [[Cú Chulainn]] in the arts of combat.<ref>"Scáthach." [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Scathach Scáthach] Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 3 June 2014.</ref> The Irish name for the fort, ''Dún Scáthaigh'', is derived from hers.<ref>P. L. Henry, Celtica, 21 (1990), 191–207.</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of castles in Scotland]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/s/scathach.html Castle of Shadows], Scáthach
*[http://www.darkisle.com/d/sgathaich/sgathaich.html Dun Sgathaich Castle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021122748/http://www.darkisle.com/d/sgathaich/sgathaich.html |date=21 October 2006 }}, Dark Isle
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060509084238/http://www.macaskill.com/History/Alisdair/Alisdair5.html Lieutenants of the Coast], MacAskill.com
*[http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.details_gis?inumlink=11440 Dun Scaich] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310220300/http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.details_gis?inumlink=11440 |date=10 March 2007 }}, [[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland]]
*[http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/District/544957 The Misty Isle], Sgathaich
*[http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/redbranch.html#Scathach The Red Branch], Timeless Myths
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130412093008/http://www.clandonald.info/castles/dunscaithcastle.html Dun of the Shadow], Clan Donald

{{coord|57|8|11.4|N|5|58|32.76|W|region:GB|display=title}}

{{Clan MacLeod}}

[[Category:Ruined castles in Highland (council area)]]
[[Category:Clan Donald]]
[[Category:Clan Macleod]]
[[Category:Castles in the Isle of Skye]]
[[Category:Scheduled monuments in Highland]]