The damaged wall at Ardvreck Castle. // A charity has slammed ''entitled Instagram vandals" who pulled down an historic 500-year-old castle wall so they could take a better picture. Historic Assynt said visitors to Ardvreck Castle in Lairg in Scotland had "ripped down" part of the wall. Officials said tourists pulled down part of the structure to make a path so they could walk across a wet sand to get to the castle for a photo. The charity say is just one of many incidents of vandalism that have occurred as visitors "clamber" all over walls in the search of the perfect Instagram picture. Photo released 21/11/2025
The damaged wall at Ardvreck Castle. (Picture: Historic Assynt / SWNS)

‘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’.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Maciej Olszewski/imageBROKER/Shutterstock (13014592ex) Ardvreck Castle, Loch Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland, UK Various
The castle is on the NC500 route, which is popular with tourists (Picture: Maciej Olszewski/imageBROKER/Shutterstock)

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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.’

Ardvreck Castle. // A charity has slammed ''entitled Instagram vandals" who pulled down an historic 500-year-old castle wall so they could take a better picture. Historic Assynt said visitors to Ardvreck Castle in Lairg in Scotland had "ripped down" part of the wall. Officials said tourists pulled down part of the structure to make a path so they could walk across a wet sand to get to the castle for a photo. The charity say is just one of many incidents of vandalism that have occurred as visitors "clamber" all over walls in the search of the perfect Instagram picture. Photo released 21/11/2025
The ancient castle dates back to 1490. (Picture: Historic Assynt / SWNS)

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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