Famous Scottish castle ruins under threat from damage caused by tourists
An iconic Scottish castle ruin is under threat. The site is being damaged from erosion caused by the hundreds of tourists who visit each year.
Duntulm Castle is situated along the north coast of Trotternish on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides. The castle dates back to the 15th century.
The castle is currently undergoing urgent works to fix deterioration. The erosion is a result of the impact of tourist numbers to the beauty spot.
Duntulm Castle was once a clan fortress for hundreds of years. However, it is now facing a very modern threat.
Every summer, visitors pour onto the Isle of Skye. The island is the second most popular tourist destination in Scotland after Edinburgh.
Highland Council has now asked heritage chiefs for scheduled monument consent to repair erosion at the castle caused by "visitor footfall". In 2024, 74,203 people visited the castle site—with 85,177 visiting in 2023 when numbers were first recorded.
Donald Ross of Skye Conservation, who is working to improve the site, commented: "The numbers are unreal. There isn't a car park here and people are leaving their cars on the side of the road.
"The place has real historic value and we really can't afford to neglect the place. So many people keep coming to Skye and I don't think people really understand the numbers.
"It is all year round now. In the summer, it just gets more manic than usual."
Castles expert Martin Coventry described Duntulm as once being a "strong and comfortable fortress and residence". However, visitors today encounter a "very ruined" 15th century tower and vaulted basement—with other buildings added in the 17th century.
The MacLeods originally held Duntulm, though most of what can be seen today dates from the 1600s and the MacDonalds of Sleat era. The castle was abandoned around 1730, when the clan relocated to Monkstadt House and then Armadale Castle.
A storm took out a major piece of the remains in the 1980s. Further deterioration has occurred in the years following.
The castle stands on a promontory owned by Highland Council, with the grazing land on the approach to Duntulm owned by the Scottish Government and tenanted by crofters. Highland Council has a responsibility written into their deeds to maintain an animal-proof boundary fence at the site.
A Highland Council spokesperson commented: "The proposed works at Duntulm Castle includes footpath improvements and replacing broken fencing surrounding and within the castle site to improve visitor safety and manage livestock. The Scottish Government is supportive of the works and is contributing financially to the works on their land.
"Highland Council remains committed to preserving our sites of historic and cultural importance, which every year attract visitors from all over the world. Along with key partners, the council has worked successfully in recent years to attract investment and improve access and facilities at some of Skye's most popular attractions such as at the Old Man of Storr, Fairy Pools, Blaven and the Quiraing."
Figures from Highland Council show the scale of visitors at key sites across Skye. A total of 30,475 people were reported at the start of the main path at the Quiraing in 2015, while in 2024 the number of visitors surged to 217,966.
The Fairy Pools have also experienced a significant increase in tourists. In 2015, a total of 83,471 people visited the beauty spot. Last year, a total of 232,570 people were recorded.
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