Argyll's Highlands, or, MacCailein Mor and the Lords of Lorne

PREPACK. ix.
the building being quite distinct, although covered with turf. The walls were very
thick, showing that the building must have been of considerable importance.
Without doubt this was the residence of Sir James MacDonald, and the spot where
he imprisoned his father, Angus MacDonald, after the burning of Askomil House.
I have not met any native of the district who had ever suspected that a castle
had once been there. That Kintyre was strongly held by the MacDonalds is
apparent from the chain of castles which they built along the coast, within sight of
each other. Near this spot there are no less than five — at Saddell, Simerby,
Askomil, Castle Hill, and Kilkerran, the last three overlooking Campbeltown Loch.
It is remarkable that two distinct and far separate historical epochs are illus-
trated by the antiquarian remains in this locality. On the high hill-tops, frowning
on the sea, are the ruins of many round towers, some of them, especially that
on Cnoc Scalbert, near Campbeltown, being of immense size; while below, on the
sea-shore, perched usually on a headland, we find the sites of the strongly-built castles
of the lordly race of the Isles. I was much struck by the interesting object-lesson
which these relics of antiquity afford.
There are many friends who have assisted me in the preparation of this work,
to whom I now tender my sincere thanks Particularly should I desire to express
my indebtedness to those distinguished sons of Kintyre : Mr. Duncan Mackinnon,
chairman of the British India Steam Navigation Company, London ; and Professor
Duncan M. MacEachran of Montreal. I have also to thank Captain Hector Mac-
Neal of Lossit and Ugadale ; Major MacAlister of Glenbarr ; Colonel Macleod of
Saddell ; Mr. Henry Whyte, the well-known " Fionn " of Celtic literature ; Mr. John
MacConnal, Liverpool ; Mr. R. M. Kelly-Robertson, Meikleleur ; Mr. Andrew Mac-
William, Glasgow ; Miss Jane Andrews, Campbeltown ; Mr. A. Grasme-Maclaverty,
president of the Kintyre Club ; Mr. A. Harvie-Pirie, LL.B., its energetic secretary;
Mr. Wm. Ferguson, C.A., treasurer; and various other officials, for much valuable
assistance and information.
I am also indebted to Mr. J. Ronald M. MacDonald of Largie for a number of
interesting notes, which will be found over his initials in the Appendix ; and to Mr.
John Fleming, Glasgow, for the use of many beautiful photos of Kintyre, which add
so greatly to the attraction of this volume.
There is yet one to whom I am indebted more than any other. My
mother is a native of Kintyre, and has cherished all through life a love for her native
land and a passion for its history and traditions, which, in a measure she has
imparted to her son. Her knowledge of the romantic tales of Kintyre is probably
not excelled by any of her contemporaries, and her recital of these old and fascinating
stories round the winter fire is one of the most pleasant and lasting recollections of
my early years. Her inspiration has at least borne some good fruit, if only in the
publication of this contribution to the literature of Kintyre.
JOHN MACKAY.
i Blythswood Drive,
Glasgow, March, 1902.