Aerial Views of Mull
Aros Castle, image taken by EM Photography, copyright Forestry Commission Scotland
Aros Castle is situated overlooking the Sound of Mull and dates from the 13th or early 14th century. A scheduled monument, it was included within a suite of low altitude aerial photography undertaken by EM Photography on behalf of the Forestry Commission Socltand to enhance the Historic Environment Record on Mull, particularly focussing on monuments set within Scotland's national forest estate. Low altitude vertical and oblique aerial photography using a remote controlled microcopter equipped with a digital camera was undertaken at a number of sites on the island, including Dun Urgadul, Dun Aisgain, Dun nan Gall broch and the site shown on this page, Aros Castle. The technique has proved remarkably adept at capturing images for illustration, site condition monitoring and for conservation management purposes, particularly in regard to upstanding masonry structures and large scale earthworks.
Aros Castle, image taken by EM Photography, copyright Forestry Commission Scotland
The prinicpal remains are those of a hall-house and bailey, defended on the landward side by a ditch and bank. The hall-house occupies the north-west portion of the summit, the remaining area of which was enclosed by a stone curtain-wall to form a bailey. The principal approach appears to have been by way of a causeway which crossed the north section of the ditch, thence passing beneath the south-west corner of the hall-house to enter a gateway in the west wall of the bailey.
Aros Castle, image taken by EM Photography, copyright Forestry Commission Scotland
The castle was probably built by one of the MacDougall lords of Lorn in the 13th century. It first comes on record in the later 14th century when it was in the possession of the Lords of the Isles