Colintraive’s Heritage Booklet

Colintraive and the Argyll Rebellion 1695

The Castle on Eilean Greig

There had been a fortress for some time on the island Eilean Dearg also known as Eilean Greig and One Tree Island, (even though that tree is now longer there). The castle, a Campbell stronghold was held in the 1400s by Campbell of Loch Awe. In the 1600s it was taken into the control of Campbell of Eilean Greig. The land then passed on to Campbell of Southall in the early 1700s.

Archibald Campbell, the Duke of Argyll moved from Bute to the old castle on Eilean Greig where he stored his arms and ammunition. Desperate for support he recruited in Colintraive and several men joined him, (possibly against their will).

Colintraive members of the ‘List of Rebels’ compiled after the rebellion included:

  • Portenelan;- Archibald McIntailor
  • Ardintraive:-Malcolm McAlpine
  • Ardghaldrich;-William McErchar, Archibald McErchar and John Mclean
  • Steilag;- John and Alex. McIlmichel

Source:- Mckechnie, H. (1938)

Figure 7: – The Castle on Eilean (Source:-Greig in (Miller 1971b)