Armadale Castle Gardens consist of 40 acres of lush—sometimes exotic—plantings, winding woodland paths, and giant 200 year old trees among other things. The gardens sit on the protected Southern part of Isle of Skye known as Sleat (pronounced "slate"), which receives the benefits and warmth of the Gulf Stream. View from the edge of the gardens over the Sound of Sleat. The extensive gardens contain several beautiful woodland paths to explore. The castle and gardens are part of the 20,000 acre estate known as Clan Donald Skye owned by the Clan Donald Lands Trust. Traditionally, it was once part of the Clan Donald land of the Sleat peninsula. Although I don't have any photos of it, we visited the Museum of the Isles, also on the estate, which contained a rich and amazing collection of historical artifacts associated with the area. A replica of a Viking ship sits in the gardens. It is a symbol important to Clan Donald given their Norse ancestry. White fuschias. This nice sitting area on the edge of the gardens overlooks the Sound of Sleat. MacDonald chiefs began staying at Armadale from 1650, although earlier, the clan occupied castles at Knock, Dunscaith and Duntulm, all on Isle of Skye. In the 1700s the mansion at Armadale was used as a dower house for the chiefs' widows. Around 1790 a new house was built here. In 1815 this was extended. A fire in 1855 destroyed most of this section and it was rebuilt as we see it today. In 1925 the MacDonald family moved and abandoned the castle. It was cloudy and rainy the day we visited so it's difficult to see the castle in this photo. Click here to see photos of Armadale Castle from the early 1900s. Today Armadale Castle is mostly a ruin with little more than walls remaining. No one is allowed inside because of safety concerns. But visitors are allowed into the left side which consists of a romantic and picturesque staircase and window frames with vines growing over it. Weddings are held here. Part of the original mansion, from 1790, remains in good condition (below). It is called the Somerled Rooms. Clan Donald is known as the Sons of Somerled. The gardens contain many mossy trees. View over the Sound of Sleat with honeysuckles in the foreground. I hope you enjoyed this visit to Armadale Castle! Thanks! Vonda www.vondasinclair.com