Brochel Castle

Brochel Castle is a fortified volcanic plug of rock rising sheer some 15 metres above surrounding land. The castle itself is believed to date from the 15th century, and was built for the Macleods of Raasay. It occupies a projecting neck of land on the east side of the island of Raasay, adjacent to the Isle of Skye. The drop to the shingle-covered shore is steep, but manageable to a fit adult. Grass-covered footings of a small settlement including a chapel are to be seen in the immediate vicinity, and the castle itself is accessible by footpath from a layby.

The island of Raasay bears a Norse name, reflecting that it was occupied by that people in the medieval period, and subsequently it was granted in its entirety to the Bishop of the Isles, probably in the 12th or early 13th century. From the 15th century the Macleods of Lewis, and then Raasay held the island as tenants of the Bishops – and remained tenants in chief until the 19th century. The first Macleod of Raasay was Calum/Malcolm Garbh, who was given the island by his father Malcolm Macleod (IX) of Lewis in about 1510, and it is clear that the influence of the Bishiops had declined as in 1549 it was stated that “Raasay belonged to MacGillechalum by the sword and the Bishop … by heritage”.

It is usually suggested that the first phase of construction at Brochel was by Malcolm. However this may be somewhat later than the actual earliest construction date. The castle itself would have been all but impregnable prior to the invention of cannon. A winding staircase ascends around the base of the rock and reaches an arched gateway and slab-roofed passage which faces east, and was overlooked by a guard-room above. To the right was a rounded curtain wall, which actually is built onto the side of the rock face, around the base of which the staircase rises, and to the left a tall, stark rectangular tower of three storeys. Beyond the gate passage, more stairs rise to a narrow courtyard – to the right is the sheer face of the upper platform, to the left the rectangular hall building. Behind the hall are two more buildings, the rearmost of which seemingly contained internal wooden stairs which led to a doorway accessing the upper platform. This contained a tall square tower, and a walled salient to the rear, seemingly this was a fourth tower. The recvtangular building was the largest and probably contained the hall and lords chambers above; the central had an undetermined function, and the rear building had a kitchen in the basement and a chamber above. The square tower on the upper platform was three storeys high, but only foundations survive. The triangular tower to the rear contained chambers and latrines, and is the best surviving portion today.

This structure could easily have been constructed in the mid 15th century, and potentially earlier if the tall square tower was the earliest structure. It controls the sea route between Raasay and the Applecross peninsular and would have been of strategic importance for the Macleods and their predecessors for a long time. As such, whilst the castle as it is described is undoubtedly its appearance at its 16th century peak, a more utilitarian structure, perhaps consisting of a tower and walled enclosure (such as, for example, Dunvegan) would not be a surprise. The castle remained in active use as a stronghold and residence of the Macleods until at least 1671, the last known to have stayed there being John Garbh (VII) of Raasay, who drowned in that year.  and by 1695 they had moved out to a new house at Clachan, later known as Raasay House. It is not known that the castle ever actually saw military action, although Malcolm (X) of Raasay did join the Jacobite cause in 1745. In retaliation, government troops burned Raasay House, but the castle was not in use. Today the castle is apparently owned by The Highland Council, who do not appear to actively maintain or repair it.

HES Canmore database entry