The ancient home of Clan Maclean, Duart Castle towers over the Sound of Mull, making a statement with its huge curtain walls and solid keep. It spent more than a century in ruins before Sir Fitzroy Maclean had it refurbished in 1911, and now serves as the top tourist attraction on the Isle of Mull. Start your visit in the Great Hall, where you can view family portraits and clan crests or admire the robust walls, which range from 10 to 23 feet thick. Next, you’ll want to tour the State Bedroom (furnished for the wartime honeymoon of Lord Maclean and his bride) and the Dressing Rooms, which feature more family photos and a collection of military uniforms and dresses dating back to 1750. Upstairs, a fascinating exhibition features relics, wall hangings, and memorabilia tracing the Macleans back to their early times as lords of the surrounding islands. When you’re done exploring indoors, walk the ramparts atop the castle and imagine fighting alongside the clan to protect their treasured castle.
