Kisimul Castle — Attraction in Scotland

I did the survey of this castle in 1965 with the OS and moved it 12 feet to the west. We were a team from the OS office in Perth doing 12:50 and 25:00 inch updates on the old 1895 surveys. The team of 2 (sometimes 5 ) were based in Castelbay and Northbay for two summer seasons 1965/66. Now 70, I look back on my time in the Hebrides as some of the best of my life. Such a pristine place, awesome, magnificent and almost totally untouched by the outside world. No electricity, just Tilly lamps, the place was a wonder. Angus Macaulay was the one and only policeman, who kept a paternal watch on the island/s. We also surveyed Mingulay, Barra Head and Vatersy. The first two flown in by Bell helicopter, Vatersay by Land Rover, ferried across from Barra on a 2 boat raft. Accommodation on Vatersay was in the school house attic, hosted by a well remembered head teacher , Elly MacPherson. One teacher, 14 pupils, 6 grades. Incredible I've traveled the world extensively since my time on Barra, more than 200 countries,, but I have never found such a more beautiful or friendly location.

You will always be in my...

Lovely 15th Century castle a very short but pleasant boat ride from Castlebay. It has been well restored in many places but the great hall was still waiting restoration when I visited. The rooms are easy to find and the staircases have sturdy ropes to hold on to. The Historic Scotland representative in the small shop was very helpful and I enjoyed exploring all the nooks and crannies from the yard to the tower. Sitting in the sun by a fragment of original wall waiting for the boat was also a nice end to the trip! It's due for a full restoration after this 2018 season so try to get there if you have a chance before it closes for the foreseeable future....

Highlight of my visit to Kisimul Castle was the boat ride across to the island that gave fantastic views of Castlebay and the hills that loom over the little town. The castle itself was a letdown - the most interesting looking room, containing a wall display of Brown Bess muskets apparently collected from the Culloden battlefield, was closed off for safety reasons. This was a pity as nothing else about the place was vaguely interesting (apart from the obligatory long drop privy, of course). Looking at it from Castlebay is far more satisfying than actually setting foot inside it. Of all the castles I've visited, Kisimul is by far the...