The MacDonalds, or Clan Donald, were Lords of the Isles, and their kingdom covered a vast area of western Scotland, taking in the Western Isles and the Isle of Skye, and territory on the Scottish mainland.
Clan Donald played a pivotal role in the history of the Highlands, from clan warfare to the Jacobite Rising, and the eventual breakdown of the traditional clan system. The museum has a large archive section, which will be of aid to people researching their family history.
Clan Donald came to Skye in the 15th century and held castles at Duntulm, Knock, Dunscaith, and Armadale. From around 1650 the clan chiefs began to stay at Armadale, and the mansion house later became a dower house for the widows of clan chiefs.
Perhaps the most famous visitor to the old mansion house at Armadale was Flora MacDonald, known for her role in helping Bonnie Prince Charlie escape capture. She was married at Armadale Castle in 1750. Later visitors included Samuel Johnson and his biographer, James Boswell, who visited in 1773 as part of their famous journey through the Western Isles.
A new mansion house was built in 1790 and extended in 1815 to form the present Armadale Castle. The architect was James Graham, who created a wonderful Gothic fantasy castle, a statement of the clan's wealth and prestige. Unfortunately, the castle was gutted by fire in 1855. Most of the mansion was destroyed.
The central section was rebuilt, leaving the remainder a picturesque ruin. The MacDonald family moved to a smaller house on the estate in 1925, and today the remains of Armadale Castle are only a romantic facade, set within a beautiful garden.
The gardens are magnificent. They extend to roughly 40 acres and include 200-year-old trees looking down on a lush carpet of bluebells, orchids, and wildflowers. The gardens are a sheltered haven for plants from around the world, including birch from the Himalayas, New Zealand giant daisies, and the colourful Chilean Fire Bush (Embothrium).
The remarkably lush gardens are the result of a mild climate, aided by the warm Gulf Stream. There are terraced walks, woodland trails, and quiet streams running through one of the most peaceful gardens you can imagine.
