'Lost cannons' returned to ruined Highland clan stronghold

A clan stronghold's cannons that disappeared after being taken into safekeeping more than 50 years ago have been found and returned to the north-west Highlands.

The two guns had poked out from the ruins of Ardvreck Castle until the early 1970s when they were moved to one place then later another outside the local area.

Historic Assynt, which looks after the 500-year-old property, said it had almost given up hope of ever seeing them again.

It said a "generous and anonymous" benefactor had helped with their return. They have been installed in the community organisation's Old Kirk archive.

The Big Cannon Project, set up in 2018 to develop a database of historical artillery weapons, assisted the local group.

A Historic Assynt spokesperson said: "If we are honest, most of us believed that we would never see them again, but thanks to a generous benefactor, who very much values their anonymity, and some amazing people who helped us rehome them, we can today announce that the Ardvreck cannons are back in Assynt .

"Huge thanks to all concerned - you know who you are and how much we appreciate it."

Ardvreck Castle was built for the MacLeods of Assynt in 1597 on the north side of Loch Assynt, which lies within a vast area of hills and mountains.

Its guns are believed to have been made in Sweden and are known as Finbanker cannon.

Historic Assynt said it was possible they were at Ardvreck in 1672 when the MacLeods' rivals, the MacKenzies of Assynt, besieged the castle and took control of it.

The castle was later abandoned and fell into ruin.

A cannonball already in Historic Assynt's care fits the cannons' bore.

There is a theory that the weapons may have been salvaged from a ship that wrecked near Drumbeg in Sutherland.