Castle wall 'ripped down' for use as stepping stones in puddle

Ardvrek Castle once served as a clan seat and is reputed to be haunted

Damage was caused to a 500-year-old ruined castle after a visitor used part of a wall to make stepping stones across a large puddle.

Ardvrek is on a small peninsula that juts out into Loch Assynt near Inchnadamph in the north west Highlands.

Historic Assynt, which helps to look after the former seat of clan MacLeod of Assynt, said it had only recently been able to repair the wall after it was damaged a few months ago.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "Advice to visitors is the usual - leave only footprints."

Historic Assynt said the castle was at risk of being lost for good.

The spokesperson said: "This year, 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."

Historic Environment Scotland and local estate staff were among those who helped with the repairs.

Historic Assynt has also had problems with people clambering over the walls, and stealing its charity box.

Historic Assynt was shocked large stones were removed to create stepping stones

The wall was damaged a few months ago

The castle was built for the MacLeods of Assynt in 1597 on the north side of the loch, which lies within a vast area of hills and mountains.

The Marquis of Montrose, a general who led Royalist forces against Covenanters during civil wars in the 17th Century was imprisoned there in 1650 after his defeat at the Battle of Carbisdale near Culrain, north of Inverness.

He was later executed in Edinburgh.

In 1672 the MacLeods' rivals, the MacKenzies of Assynt, besieged Ardvrek and took control of it.

The castle was later abandoned and fell into ruin.

Ardvrek is said to be haunted by the ghostly figure of a man, and a weeping woman.