Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom

Amhuinnsuidhe Castle is a large private country house on the Isle of Harris, one of the Western Isles of Scotland. The house was built in 1865 for the 7th Earl of Dunmore, the then owner of the island. Amhuinnsuidhe was designed in the Scottish baronial style by architect David Bryce. In 2003 Amhuinnsuidhe Castle Estate purchased the castle and the fishing rights. The castle is now operated as a venue for shooting parties and other events.

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Palaces, manors and town halls in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Ray Towey (4 years ago)
Fabulous castle great views just need good weather to make the most of the surrounding area. However if the weather isn't up to much you still won't be disappointed. Restaurant has a good menu and the staff are friendly and helpful. Rooms are clean and well kept. Give it a go and you won't be disappointed....

Alistair Duncan (4 years ago)
Our splurge stay of the trip. More a hunting lodge than a castle. Enjoyable all guests dining as a group. Food very good, but disappointing it was chicken the night we stayed, choice of one of two would have been better.

Kevin Whitworth (4 years ago)
Had an excellent tour round by the staff on our trip there with Catch 23.

Magnolia Ace (4 years ago)
Although I didn't go inside the castle from the outside it is well preserved. The castle grounds are immaculate and there is a large waterfall to the right of the castle. There is an honesty shop just along from the castle on the right hand side that sells the castles own smoked salmon and other delights. If visiting the castle I would recommend a visit to Huisinis beach further along the road. One of the most beautiful beaches on Harris.

Banner Hampton (4 years ago)
Take the scenic road to Huishinish on the Isle of Harris, encountering, steep hills, hidden lochs, waterfalls, remote villages, golden eagles and deer. Pass through the white gates to find Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, a spectacular hideaway offering outstanding accommodation, unsurpassed fishing and field sports, good food and Hebridean hospitality. Offers Exclusive Use, or individual rooms for guests who want to make use of our sporting facilities or for guests who want to come and relax in comfortable surroundings amidst a breathtaking wilderness. The focus is on providing a unique and unforgettable experience.

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Historic Site of the week

Walled city of Jajce

The Walled City of Jajce is a medieval fortified nucleus of Jajce in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with citadel high above town on top of pyramidal-shaped steep hill, enclosed with approximately 1,300 metres long defensive walls,. It is one of the best preserved fortified capitals of the Bosnian Kingdom, the last stronghold before the kingdom dissolved under the pressure of military advancement at the onset of Ottoman Empire takeover.

The entire complex of the Walled city of Jajce, with the citadel, city ramparts, watchtower Medvjed-kula, and two main city gate-towers lies on the southern slope of a large rocky pyramid at the confluence of the rivers Pliva and Vrbas, enclosed by these rivers from the south-southwest, with the bed of the Pliva, and east-southeast by the river Vrbas gorge.

History

The fortress was built by Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, the founder of Jajce. However, the city became the seat of the Bosnian kings, hence the royal coat of arms decoration on the citadel entrance. A part of the wall was built by the Hungarian King, while the Ottomans erected the powder magazine. The walls are high and the castle was built on a hill that is egg shaped, the rivers Pliva and Vrbas also protect the castle. There is no rampart on the south and west.

Jajce was first built in the 14th century and served as the capital of the independent Kingdom of Bosnia during its time. The town has gates as fortifications, as well as a castle with walls which lead to the various gates around the town. About 10–20 kilometres from Jajce lies the Komotin Castle and town area which is older but smaller than Jajce. It is believed the town of Jajce was previously Komotin but was moved after the Black Death.

The first reference to the name of Jajce in written sources is from the year 1396, but the fortress had already existed by then. Jajce was the residence of the last Bosnian king Stjepan Tomasevic; the Ottomans besieged the town and executed him, but held it only for six months, before the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus seized it at the siege of Jajce and established the Banovina of Jajce.

Skenderbeg Mihajlović besieged Jajce in 1501, but without success because he was defeated by Ivaniš Korvin assisted by Zrinski, Frankopan, Karlović and Cubor.

During this period, Queen Catherine restored the Saint Mary"s Church in Jajce, today the oldest church in town. Eventually, in 1527, Jajce became the last Bosnian town to fall to Ottoman rule. The town then lost its strategic importance, as the border moved further north and west.

Jajce passed with the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the administration of Austria-Hungary in 1878. The Franciscan monastery of Saint Luke was completed in 1885.

Surroundings

The Walled city of Jajce is located at the confluence of the Pliva and Vrbas rivers. It was founded and started developing in the Middle Ages and acquired its final form during the Ottoman period. There are several churches and mosques built in different times during different rules, making Jajce a rather diverse town in this aspect. It is declared National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and, as the old Jajce city core, including the waterfall, and other individual sites outside the walled city perimeter, such as the Jajce Mithraeum, it is designated as The natural and architectural ensemble of Jajce and proposed as such for inscription into the UNESCO"s World Heritage Site list. The bid for inscription is currently placed on the UNESCO Tentative list.

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