Tower Imprisonment by Rope

Kisimul’s Darkest Tradition

Kisimul Castle, perched precariously atop a sea-battered rock just off the coast of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, stands today as a romantic ruin — an image beloved by tourists and historians alike. But in its prime, it was a grim and formidable fortress, feared as much for its location as for its role in the justice and power system of Clan MacNeil.

Known as the “Castle in the Sea,” Kisimul was nearly impregnable. Its outer walls were washed by the Atlantic at high tide, isolating it in every sense. Boats could approach only with permission, and its gatekeepers were trained in suspicion and delay. But beyond its physical defenses, Kisimul held a darker reputation — one centered on an eerie tradition of tower imprisonment by rope.