Castle Craig Lowrie of The Wolf of Dalriada Stories is a pastiche of Castle Duntrune, Castle Tioram, Dunollie Castle and Castle Mingary in Western Argyll. Its main feature is that it rests on the coast above the sea and is a fortified defence against marauding and disaffected clansmen. (Some of these ‘lost souls’ have resulted from the policy of clearance now gathering speed on the Highlands and Islands alike.) The old custom is that the Laird protects and feeds those who cannot protect and feed themselves. The new custom is ‘Every man for himself.’ Not an improvement. The architectural style of each of these castles is militaristic and shared by all four. Not the place for an aristocratic seamstress – such as Adelaïde de Fontenoy, brought up in the Court of Versailles, France…

For a comparison of castles see:

Transactions of the Glasgow Archaeological Society

NEW SERIES, Vol. 13 (1954), pp. 70-90 (21 pages) CASTLE TIORAM, MOIDART, INVERNESS-SHIRE; AND MINGARY CASTLE, ARDNAMURCHAN, ARGYLLSHIRE
W. DOUGLAS SIMPSON

 

And for the location of Castle Craig Lowrie see: Duntrune Castle by Crinan Moss