The current castle was built between 1912 and 1932 by John MacRae-Gilstrap, as a restoration project.

The name, “Eilean Donan”, means “Island of Donan”, and came into use circa the 6th or 7th centuries AD, sometimes as “Ellandonan”. The original structure, or perhaps structures, was likely a vitrified fort. The location was no doubt strategically important for centuries.

In 1331, Randolph, Earl of Moray, set 50 decapitated heads of his victims on the walls of the castle.

The MacKenzie family took hold of the island by the late thirteenth century. A castle more in tune with the “modern” era was then built, and this included a great protective wall. The MacKenzies held the island until the 16th century, although there were brief and intermittent periods of dispute about this. During this era, the MacRae clan became “bodyguards” to the MacKenzies. They became Constables of the Castle on Donan in 1511.

One notable dispute occurred in 1539. The MacKenzies and the McLeods of Dunvegan came to blows. Donald Gorm, of the McLeods, attacked the then-extant Castle at Eilean Donan with 50 small ships. The takeover was averted, despite internal weaknesses, by a well-placed arrow from Duncan MacRae, which killed Donald Gorm.

In 1715, during the Jacobite Rebellion, Government troops took the Castle and provisioned it against the Jacobites. The Jacobites, however, re-took the Castle before the Battle of Sheriffmuir. In 1719, the Government launched a sea attack which left the castle in ruins, until John MacRae-Gilstrap came along to purchase and refurbish it. He also re-built the causeway to Scotland proper.

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