‘Entitled Instagram vandals’ tear down 500-year-old castle wall to take pictures

‘Entitled’ Instagram users tore down a 500-year-old castle wall in the Scottish Highlands so they could avoid getting their feet wet.

A community organisation in Sutherland has accused tourists of ‘ripping down’ a wall that’s part of Ardvreck Castle.

Officials said the historic structure was ruined so that tourists could clear a path that would allow them to see the castle and get a good photo without getting their feet soggy from the wet sand.

The local group, called Historic Assynt, said in a Facebook post that the incident was ‘truly unbelievable, but it happened’.

The statement said: ‘Some special individuals decided when the water was over the beach area, rather than get their little tootsies wet, they would rip down a 500-year-old wall to make a path for themselves.’

‘Truly unbelievable, but it happened.’

The group said the wall has been repaired slightly and are taking donations.

‘If you are planning a holiday and want to clamber over an ancient monument for that Instagram pic, please don’t!’ Historic Assynt added.

‘This is our history and every time someone clambers all over it, a little more of it crumbles away.

‘Individually, it might be small amounts but collectively Assynt’s history is disappearing.’

This hasn’t been the first case of vandalism. Reports of theft from collection boxes and ‘clambering all over the walls like entitled monkeys’ are common.

Ardvreck Castle dates back to 1490 when the land was owned by the Scottish clan, the Macleods of Assynt.

It is located on the popular NC500 route, which is often said to be ‘Scotland’s Route 66’.

The trail passes through stunning lochs, ancient castles, dramatic cliffs and beaches.

Historic Environment Scotland has issued funding for the repairs and installed signs asking visitors to treat the ancient site with respect.

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