Finlaggan was once the seat of the Lords of the Isles and Clan Donald. Two of the three islands that lie in Loch Finlaggan, Eilean Mor (the Large Isle) and Eilean na Comhairle (the Council Isle), formed the administrative centre of the Lordship during the 13th to 15th centuries when MacDonald power was at its height, comprising mainland Argyll and the Glens of Antrim, stretching up the Great Glen to Ross-shire, beyond to Buchan and the Means, and south to Greenan in Ayrshire. This lasted until 1493 when the Lordship fell to James IV of Scotland, who administered the territory via a tenant-in-chief. Now mainly ruins, the site remains highly evocative.
Very cool place to explore. Small but interesting visitor center with a very nifty VR headset so you can explore the site as it would have looked in medieval times.
Great place if you love medieval history, lovely visitor centre and also displays within the ruined buildings. All the history of Clan Donald and Somerled
Worth a visit while touring on the island. We attempted a round trip of the Loch but stopped at 75%.. some parts are definitely not accessible. Stick to the paths and enjoy the wonderful work of the collective behind Loch Finlaggan.
An hour spent taking in the seat of the 'Lord of the Isles', situated in an atmospheric and beautiful setting. A boardwalk forms part of the walk, with the 7th - 16th century history explained on information boards located across the site. Visited on a Sunday, however the walk is still accessible (honesty donation box - cash). Consider appropriate footwear if a wet day as path heads through a field. Car parking available, and if the visitor centre is closed, the walk starts to the right of the building through a gate.
Very cool! Fascinating history, with clearly marked plaques describing what you're looking at. We came after 5pm so the visitor Centre was not open, but still very worth it. An easy walk (about 5 mins) to the boardwalk and across to the island.
You can walk to the site for free (donation points in one or two locations) but to visit the museum / centre there is a fee. It is interesting and worth looking around and learning about the history. The VR is worthwhile too. It's not a busy site, we saw one other couple over the duration of our visit.
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Discounts for kids
Good for kids
Hello! I'm your AI guide for Finlaggan Trust. I can help you with information about this attraction, including its history, best times to visit, and tips for your visit. What would you like to know?
Discover hotels in Visitor Centre, Ballygrant, Finlaggan PA45 7QT
Searching for hotels...
Very cool place to explore. Small but interesting visitor center with a very nifty VR headset so you can explore the site as it would have looked in medieval times.
Great place if you love medieval history, lovely visitor centre and also displays within the ruined buildings. All the history of Clan Donald and Somerled
Worth a visit while touring on the island. We attempted a round trip of the Loch but stopped at 75%.. some parts are definitely not accessible. Stick to the paths and enjoy the wonderful work of the collective behind Loch Finlaggan.
An hour spent taking in the seat of the 'Lord of the Isles', situated in an atmospheric and beautiful setting. A boardwalk forms part of the walk, with the 7th - 16th century history explained on information boards located across the site. Visited on a Sunday, however the walk is still accessible (honesty donation box - cash). Consider appropriate footwear if a wet day as path heads through a field. Car parking available, and if the visitor centre is closed, the walk starts to the right of the building through a gate.
Very cool! Fascinating history, with clearly marked plaques describing what you're looking at. We came after 5pm so the visitor Centre was not open, but still very worth it. An easy walk (about 5 mins) to the boardwalk and across to the island.
You can walk to the site for free (donation points in one or two locations) but to visit the museum / centre there is a fee. It is interesting and worth looking around and learning about the history. The VR is worthwhile too. It's not a busy site, we saw one other couple over the duration of our visit.
