Arms Intro
THE BARONY OF
Lochawe

Unknown｜Unknown

Loch Awe lies in Argyll, running 24 miles south-west from Ben Cruachan. It has been inhabited since prehistory with Bronze Age crannogs (man-made islands which once supported dwellings) on the loch. Along Loch Awe, near the eastern shore, is the island of Innis Chonnell on which lies a castle (also known as Ardchonnel), where the chiefs of Clan Campbell had their stronghold from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries.

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History 1
From the late 1200s, Cailean Campbell and then his son, Sir Neil, contested ownership of Innis Chonnell and control of Loch Awe with the MacDougall clan.
The MacDougalls were allied to the Comyns during the Wars of Independence, while the Campbells were allied to the Bruces.

Sir Neil was a firm friend of Robert the Bruce, attending his coronation at Scone in 1306, likely aiding his escape following the Battle of Dalrigh, and marrying his sister Mary. Sir Neil’s eldest son and heir, Colin Campbell, received the lands and Barony of Lochawe, which became the centre of power for the Campbell chiefs.

1876 OS Map Killean Sheet 20. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
History 2
The next two centuries saw an extraordinary rise by the Campbells to power in the south-west Highlands.
They achieved local dominance around Loch Awe by the middle of the fourteenth century, and began to achieve regional supremacy from this base.

It was a secure place, distant from any foes, as shown by the Campbell battle-cry: ‘It’s a far cry to Loch Awe’.

Ardminish Bay, Isle of Gigha © 2000 Dumgoyach

1927 OS map Oban & Loch Awe, Sheet 61. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. (CC BY NLS)

History 3
In support of the Crown they challenged the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, and were the ultimate beneficiaries of their decline and fall.
By the mid-1400s, the Campbells of Lochawe were regionally secure, and the granting of the Earldom of Argyll to Colin Campbell in 1458 confirmed this.

As the family became important over an increasingly large swathe of territory, Loch Awe was left at the northern edge of Campbell lands. To expand even further they also needed access to the sea, and so in time Inverary replaced Innis Chonnell as the seat of their power.

Low tide at Gigha ferry terminal © 2017 M J Richardson

Innis Chonnell Castle © 2007 Karl Pipes (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Low tide at Gigha ferry terminal © 2017 M J Richardson
History 4
Innis Chonnell continued to be an important fortress, however, and was key in the final stages of subduing the MacDonalds. Aonghas Óg MacDonald, illegitimate son of chief John MacDonald had married a daughter of Colin, Earl of Argyll.
The stories vary, but most agree that Campbell secured his daughter and her son, Donald Dubh, who was to become heir to the Lordship of the Isles, in Innis Chonnell.

Here Donald remained until he was released. A brief rebellion under him then broke out, but Donald was recaptured and spent much of the rest of his life imprisoned, only to be freed in the 1540s, when he again tried and failed to resurrect the Lordship of the Isles.

The Campbell Earls of Argyll would go on to become one of the most influential dynasties in Scotland, and later in Britain, rising to become Dukes of Argyll and holding great political and military power. Loch Awe today is known both for its rich history and for its great beauty.

1876 OS Map Killean Sheet 20. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.

Loch Awe and Ben Cruachan © 2020 Patrick Mackie
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

Tour Another Barony
Arms Intro
History 1
History 2
History 3
History 4
Arms Intro
Forum for the Scottish Baronage monogram
THE BARONY OF
Lochawe

Unknown｜Unknown

Loch Awe lies in Argyll, running 24 miles south-west from Ben Cruachan. It has been inhabited since prehistory with Bronze Age crannogs (man-made islands which once supported dwellings) on the loch. Along Loch Awe, near the eastern shore, is the island of Innis Chonnell on which lies a castle (also known as Ardchonnel), where the chiefs of Clan Campbell had their stronghold from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries.

Click icons to learn more
History 1
From the late 1200s, Cailean Campbell and then his son, Sir Neil, contested ownership of Innis Chonnell and control of Loch Awe with the MacDougall clan.
The MacDougalls were allied to the Comyns during the Wars of Independence, while the Campbells were allied to the Bruces.

Sir Neil was a firm friend of Robert the Bruce, attending his coronation at Scone in 1306, likely aiding his escape following the Battle of Dalrigh, and marrying his sister Mary. Sir Neil’s eldest son and heir, Colin Campbell, received the lands and Barony of Lochawe, which became the centre of power for the Campbell chiefs.

1876 OS Map Killean Sheet 20. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
History 2
The next two centuries saw an extraordinary rise by the Campbells to power in the south-west Highlands.
They achieved local dominance around Loch Awe by the middle of the fourteenth century, and began to achieve regional supremacy from this base.

It was a secure place, distant from any foes, as shown by the Campbell battle-cry: ‘It’s a far cry to Loch Awe’.

Ardminish Bay, Isle of Gigha © 2000 Dumgoyach

1927 OS map Oban & Loch Awe, Sheet 61. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. (CC BY NLS)

History 3
In support of the Crown they challenged the MacDonald Lords of the Isles, and were the ultimate beneficiaries of their decline and fall.
By the mid-1400s, the Campbells of Lochawe were regionally secure, and the granting of the Earldom of Argyll to Colin Campbell in 1458 confirmed this.

As the family became important over an increasingly large swathe of territory, Loch Awe was left at the northern edge of Campbell lands. To expand even further they also needed access to the sea, and so in time Inverary replaced Innis Chonnell as the seat of their power.

Ardminish Bay, Isle of Gigha © 2000 Dumgoyach

Innis Chonnell Castle © 2007 Karl Pipes (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Ardminish Bay, Isle of Gigha © 2000 Dumgoyach
History 4
Innis Chonnell continued to be an important fortress, however, and was key in the final stages of subduing the MacDonalds. Aonghas Óg MacDonald, illegitimate son of chief John MacDonald had married a daughter of Colin, Earl of Argyll.
The stories vary, but most agree that Campbell secured his daughter and her son, Donald Dubh, who was to become heir to the Lordship of the Isles, in Innis Chonnell.

Here Donald remained until he was released. A brief rebellion under him then broke out, but Donald was recaptured and spent much of the rest of his life imprisoned, only to be freed in the 1540s, when he again tried and failed to resurrect the Lordship of the Isles.

The Campbell Earls of Argyll would go on to become one of the most influential dynasties in Scotland, and later in Britain, rising to become Dukes of Argyll and holding great political and military power. Loch Awe today is known both for its rich history and for its great beauty.

1876 OS Map Killean Sheet 20. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.

Loch Awe and Ben Cruachan © 2020 Patrick Mackie (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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