Muness Castle / Isle of Unst **

Region: Shetland Islands

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Description:

Muness Castle has the distinction of being the most northerly fortalice in the British Isles and makes for some interesting sight seeing. The castle was built in 1598 by Laurence Bruce, the corrupt and cruel Sheriff of Shetland, as a stronghold to protect himself and his family from the likes of his half brother’s son Earl Patrick. In 1608 the castle came under attack for the first time when Earl Patrick arrived with 36 men and artillery from Unst with the express intention of capturing or destroying the castle. They withdrew inexplicably and the castle survived, only to be attacked and burned by French raiders in 1627. It did recover somewhat but was no longer in use by the end of the 1600s. During the early 1700s it was sold and later abandoned and by 1774, its deterioration began when the roof collapsed.