May 2025 Update:​ ​The team of Fiona Baker, David Connolly, Hana Kdolska, Bruce McFarlin and Liam Mackenzie visited Inveruglas Isle on May 6 to finalize plans for September tree work.  ​​See the Project Status Blog !

The Inveruglas Isle Project 2025
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May 2025 Team with skipper, Justina
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Interpretive Panel - August 2022

Elanvow: Island Stronghold
of the Clan Macfarlane

The castle at Island I Vow (Elanvow/Ellan Vhow) was built in 1577 by Andrew Macfarlane, 11th Chief of the Clan Macfarlane.  In honour of his support for future King James VI/I at the Battle of Langside, Andrew was awarded the addition of a new crest and motto to his armorial bearings. The crest was a demi-savage holding a sheaf of arrows in one hand and pointing to the royal crown with the other hand. This gave the clan its motto "This I'll Defend".  King James VI/I is said to have later visited Elanvow as evidenced by the Scottish proverb of "Macfarlane's Geese".Elanvow was the seat of the clan after Inveruglas was burned by forces loyal to Cromwell in the mid 17th century and remained the seat through the end of the 17th century.      
Click -> Facts, Suppositions & Myths
The Elanvow Preservation Fund (EIN 46-0871085, The Ellan Vhow Preservation Fund) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to archaeological study, preservation and maintenance of the sixteenth century castle, buildings and site on Island I Vow (Elanvow), Loch Lomond, Scotland and other Macfarlane-relevant sites in collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland.  See our Project Status and Projects tabs for more on current projects.
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Elanvow Tower, October 2013 - Before & After - Looking ESE
Contact Us at Info@EllanVhow.org

Tree Work on Elanvow - August 2022

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Tree 5 - Across Building 4
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After cutting and winching into place
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After cutting, looking South

Short Video of 3D model showing Before & tree locations.

What's in a Name?
​Island I Vow, Elanvow, Eilean a Vow
Eilean a' Bhogha, Eilean Ùr, Eilean a' Bh​ùth
Draft Name Research
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​October 2013 Report
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October 2013 Report
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3D Modeling of Tower interior, in progress, via PhotoScan. Thanks to Agisoft for recognizing the educational value of EVPF and this site.
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August 2018 - Trimmed saplings on wall heads, removed brambles, trimmed ivy. See Projects for more photos.
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Joss Durnan - Historic Environment Scotland - August 12, 2019
February 2017 Drone Flyover