History of Glenborrodale

The name Glenborrodale Orginates from the Viking name 'Glenborrodale' which local legend traces the name  a 13th-century Norse settler, a seven-foot-tall Viking warrior named Borrodill, who was defeated by Somerled around 1120 . Long before the castle was built, Glenborrodale Bay even witnessed an episode of the Jacobite rising: in 1746 two French supply ships were attacked by Royal Navy vessels just off the coast here . These early tales set the stage for the rich heritage of Glenborrodale, though the castle itself would only rise in the early 20th century.

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Glenborrodale Castle has over a century of fascinating stories. Alongside famous visits from figures like Cecil Rhodes and King George V, there are plenty of quirky tales too. In the 1920s, when Sir Kenneth Clark owned the estate, Sir Thomas Lipton — the tea magnate — stayed at the castle. A passionate yachtsman, Lipton loved hosting grand picnics on the grounds, even bringing his own exotic teas to brew outdoors. Another story tells of Sir Thomas Sopwith, who once arrived by seaplane on Loch Sunart — a rare and exciting event at the time. The castle’s setting only adds to its magic: visitors often spot red deer wandering the lawns at dusk or hear bagpipes drifting across the loch from nearby village celebrations. Unlike many Scottish castles, Glenborrodale’s "ghosts" are not spooky but historical — echoes of lively parties and the footsteps of famous guests. From Viking legends to royal visits, every stone of Glenborrodale carries a piece of its rich and colorful past.