A photographer has shared stunning photos of a Scottish castle that has featured in the likes of James Bond and Highlander.
Jim Rocks Photography captured the images of Eilean Donan, which is a small tidal island in the western Highlands where three sea lochs—Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh—meet. It is dominated by the castle that sits in its centre, which is said to be among the most recognisable castles in the country.
Simply referred to as Eilean Donan Castle, the structure dates all the way back to the 13th century, when it was used by King Alexander II to defend against Viking raiders. Over the years, the original castle has seen many changes as new owners have moved in, with it later becoming a stronghold of Clan Mackenzie.
In 1719, during the Jacobite uprisings, Eilean Donan Castle hosted a number of Jacobites—as well as Spanish soldiers who were supporting them. When the British Government discovered that the castle was being used as a Jacobite base, it sent three Royal Navy frigates to Eilean Donan and it was eventually overrun and destroyed after the Government blew up the 343 barrels of gunpowder that were inside.
For nearly 200 years, Eilean Donan was nothing but an abandoned ruin. It may surprise visitors who head there today, but the current castle was actually not constructed until the 20th century.
Between 1919 and 1932, Eilean Donan Castle was reconstructed as a family home by Lt Col John MacRae-Gilstrap, retaining as much of the original design as possible. It was at this time that a footbridge was added to provide easier access to and from the mainland.
Since then, the rebuilt castle has become something of a Scottish icon, appearing on packaging for products like shortbread and whisky.
Eilean Donan will also likely look familiar to the movie buffs out there, as it has been used as a shooting location for a large number of iconic films. Among these are Highlander, where it featured as the home Clan MacLeod, and The World Is Not Enough—in which it was used as the Scottish headquarters of MI6.
Sharing his gorgeous photos to Facebook, Jim Rocks Photography wrote: "Eilean Donan is recognised as one of the most iconic images of Scotland all over the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that the castle is now one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish Highlands."
Before long, the post had received nearly 100 likes, with many other users quick to leave comments sharing their thoughts on the snaps.
"Absolutely beautiful photos," one wrote, while a second agreed: "Magical".
Meanwhile, a third echoed: "Gorgeous Jim."
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