16 June 2008

The historic castles of Loch Lomond’s islands are in danger of being lost forever, if action is not taken soon according to a new report by the Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs.

Loch Lomond’s islands are a popular destination for boat users, but they also contain the remains of important ancient and historical ruins, which help to tell the story of the area’s past. Many of sites are also protected as Scheduled Ancient Monuments.

Time, however, has not been kind to these echoes of the past. The report details results of surveys of historic sites on 11 islands and reveals that many of them are suffering from structural damage and erosion. The activities of moored boats is also causing problems in some areas. The most serious concerns surround four castles: Ellan Vhow, Inveruglas, Inchgalbraith and Inchmurrin, which are in danger of being lost altogether if work is not undertaken soon.

“It is really sad to see these ancient sites in such a bad condition,” said Friends Director Martin Varley, “These castles should be focal point for celebrating the story of Loch Lomond, but instead they are being slowly washed away and disappearing before our very eyes. If they go a slice of history goes with them, which is why we think it time to take action to protect them.”