In 1925 the Macdonald family moved to a smaller house, leaving the castle to the wind and rain. The Castle was put on the market in 1972 and purchased by the Clan Donald Lands Trust. By this time the west part of the Castle was derelict, and in 1981 the decision was taken to demolish the building while saving as many remnants as possible.
The ruined Castle is currently unstable so is fenced off for your safety. Visitors can still enjoy magnificent views framed by the romantic ruin. We are working on plans to stabilise the structure to enable full access.
Gardens
Armadale’s magnificent gardens are testament to the care and attention given by estate staff to restore them to glory, creating the haven of scent and colour you experience today.
Parts of the garden date back to the 1790s, when the original mansion house was built. Substantial remodelling took place in the 1820s when the area in front of the new Castle building was levelled to enhance the fine views across to the mainland. The Gothic bridge, a Historic Environment Scotland designated monument, was built in 1825. The woodland gardens include many remarkable specimen trees, mostly planted in the 1870s. More recently developed areas such as the ponds, herbaceous borders and terrace walks provide a tranquil place to sit or stroll.
Among the many plants from around the world that thrive here you will find the vibrant flowers of the ‘Chilean Fire Bush’ (Embothrium), the white stems of the Himalayan Birch which dazzle in winter sunlight, and the cheerful giant daisy flowers of the Celmesias from New Zealand.
Dotted throughout the grounds are a number of interesting sculptures. These include ‘2 Rising Lines II’ by contemporary Scottish artist Julie Brook, which uses Torrin marble to respond to its woodland site; ‘Teko the Swimming Otter’ by Laurence Broderick; and ‘The Homecoming’, a much-loved pair of bronze Skye Terriers to honour the island’s famous breed of dog.