Clan Donald Visitor Centre at Armadale Castle

Welcome to Clan Donald Skye, a magnificent 20,000 acre estate in south Skye. Enjoy an outstanding holiday experience, exploring the historic gardens and woodland trails around Armadale Castle, learning about highland history in our fascinating Museum of the Isles or staying in our self-catering lodges.

The Estate offers some stunning walks for all levels of fitness, with views eastwards across the Sound of Sleat to Knoydart, or on the west of the peninsula across to the Cuillin mountain range. It is home to iconic wildlife species including red deer, golden eagles and sea eagles.

MUSEUM OF THE ISLES - TAIGH TASGAIDH CHLANN DOMHNAILL

Discover the history of the Highlands and Islands through the story of Clan Donald, its most powerful clan, at our award-winning museum.

Six interconnecting galleries, each with their own theme, take you through 1500 years of the history and culture of the area once known as the Kingdom of the Isles. This sea kingdom had its own unique culture and language, Gaelic. The MacDonalds - or Clan Donald - were the Lords of the Isles and sit at the heart of the history of Gaeldom.

Our museum follows their story through triumph, bloodshed and trauma from the demise of the Lordship of the Isles, through the Jacobite risings, to the sweeping cultural changes where clansmen became crofters and chiefs became landlords. A seventh gallery hosts an exhibition that changes each year and celebrates the anniversaries of historic events or explores special themes.

A poetry trail gives an added dimension to the story while audio guides in several languages, and for the visually impaired, provide further interpretation.

Young visitors can enjoy exploring the museum with our Children’s trails.

GARDENS

Armadale Castle Gardens is very much a story of the care and attention given by the gardens' staff to restore them to glory and continue development and planting, creating a haven of scent and colour. The result is 40 acres of fascinating gardens and woodland area for all the family to enjoy.

Magnificent trees, some almost 200 years old, tower above stunning carpets of bluebells, orchids and wildflowers in spring and summer. Sheltered below the giants are the young firs which will eventually replace them, as well as the growing collections of elegant birch and beech trees.

Plants from around the world thrive in this sheltered corner – 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. The mild climate created by the Gulf Stream sea-current and the sheltered aspect make the Gardens a floral paradise.

More recently developed areas such as the ponds, herbaceous borders and terrace walks provide a tranquil place to sit or stroll, with walks through dappled shade and delicate woodland planting linking these sunny havens.