kinbane castle

The castle itself was built of a contrastingly dark basalt by Colla Dubh MacDonnell in 1547. The most prominent feature is the two-storey gabled tower guarding the entrance to a walled enclosure occupying much of the southern half of the island.

The castle was taken and partially destroyed by the English in 1555, but it remained in use for some considerable time afterwards. The walk up and down the steep pathway leading to the castle affords a wonderful panorama of Rathlin Island, with the Mull of Kintyre in the background.