Dunluce Castle, Portballintrae, United Kingdom

Dunluce Castle is a ruined medieval castle located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim, and is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland. The castle is surrounded by extremely steep drops on either side, which may have been an important factor to the early Christians and Vikings who were drawn to this place where an early Irish fort once stood.

In the 13th century, Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster, built the first castle at Dunluce. The earliest features of the castle are two large drum towers about 9 metres in diameter on the eastern side, both relics of a stronghold built here by the McQuillans after they became lords of the Route.

The McQuillans were the Lords of Route from the late 13th century until they were displaced by the MacDonnell after losing two major battles against them during the mid- and late-16th century.

Later Dunluce Castle became the home of the chief of the Clan MacDonnell of Antrim and the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg from Scotland.

In 1588 the Girona, a galleass from the Spanish Armada, was wrecked in a storm on the rocks nearby. The cannons from the ship were installed in the gatehouses and the rest of the cargo sold, the funds being used to restore the castle.

Dunluce Castle served as the seat of the Earl of Antrim until the impoverishment of the MacDonnells in 1690, following the Battle of the Boyne. Since that time, the castle has deteriorated and parts were scavenged to serve as materials for nearby buildings.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

C Yager (8 months ago)
Great castle ruins with spectacular coastal views. Interesting history and overall well maintained. There is a gift shop and toilets. Small entrance fee, very busy and very limited parking.

Jasmine Stephensen (8 months ago)
Perfection is an understatement. I spent 4 weeks in the UK and Ireland and Dunluce Castle was still my favourite part. The stunning coastal views were amazing. I really enjoyed exploring the old castle with different windows and damaged walls that had gaps showing coastal and mountain views. Definitely 100% recommend.

L M (9 months ago)
Dunluce Castle is a lot bigger than I'd thought. It's very interesting to walk around and see what remains and how it would have looked originally via the artist's impressions on the visitor information signs. Lots of brilliant views of the coastline and is an enjoyable day even if the weather is not great. Can be slippy in parts if it has been raining, due to the stones and uneven ground. Not too expensive either - around £5-6 per person (less for concessions) Toilets available on site.

Steff Ronan (9 months ago)
This is a gorgeous place to visit while on the coast. We paid a small fee to enter and although it's small the price is very reasonable, it is a national heritage site so if you are a member then entry is free. It's on beautiful grounds and we were lucky enough to have the weather on our side. We spoke with one of the workers of the grounds and he gave us a great history lesson on the castle. A great little visit.

Max Well (10 months ago)
Beautiful place to visit. The laminated hand out thoroughly describes the castle rooms and grounds. It's hard to imagine life back then until you close your eyes and take in the moment. Stunning views! It sits on a cliff top with shear drops.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Following Hadrian

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.

Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.

Dunluce Castle

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople