Eilean Donan in Kyle of Lochalsh | Atlas Obscura

Eilean Donan in Kyle of Lochalsh | Atlas Obscura


Eilean Donan
The most iconic structure in Scotland has been home to bishops, colonels, and Sean Connery characters.
Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland


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Eilean Donan Andrea Mucelli on Flickr


About


Having been featured in photos, ads, and films, the island fortesss known as Eilean Donan has spent centuries solidifying its position as the most iconic image of Scotland for natives and foreigners alike.

Built on an island a mile away from the Village of Dornie, the land was first occupied in 634 AD, home to the monastic cell of Bishop Donan. During the 13th-century Alexander II built the first incarnation of Eilean Donan to defend the surrounding mountains of Kintail and the Isle of Skye against the Viking hordes. This original castle is said to have an immense curtained wall connecting seven towers and spanning the entire island. Come 1719, a lesser-known Jacobite uprising partially destroyed the structure, and for the following 200 years, it lay in near ruins. Finally, in 1911, Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap arrived. He bought the island and restored the castle, reopening it in 1932.

Jutting artfully from its island perch at the intersection of three lochs, the castle has been featured in a number of ad campaigns, television, and films, such as; The New Avengers (1976), Highlander (1986), and Entrapment (1999). As of 2021, the Internet Movie Database (IMBD lists 21 entries in which it was used as a location, beginning with "Bonnie Prince Charlie" starring David Niven in 1948. Today, what is deemed the fourth incarnation of the castle (the history of the second and third structures remains unknown) is still owned by the MacRae family, who run a tourist center and restaurant for those who care to venture into the Feudal folds of Scotland's history.

The kids aren’t hopeful

 The kids aren’t hopeful

Maskot/Getty Images

On Tuesdays, the Brew’s Matty Merritt brings you the news you need to make life a little easier during your 9-5, 5-9, or OOO. If you’re under 35 and roll your eyes when your parents talk about finding a job, know that you’re not alone in feeling exhausted by the hunt. Younger Americans are more pessimistic about the job market than older Americans, a sharp reversal from just a few years ago, according to a new Gallup World Poll: As of 2025, just 43% of Americans aged 15-34 believe that it’s a “good time” to find a job where they live, compared with 64% of people 55 and older. Historically, young people with their bright-eyed optimism have been more hopeful than older generations about the economy and job hunting. The disconnect is real: In 2023, nearly 70% of 15- to 34-year-olds thought it was a good time to find a job. That means it dropped by 27 percentage points in just two years—comparable to the drop following the Great Recession in 2008. But back then, Americans of all ages felt disheartened, not just young people.

Colbert’s 11-year Late Show run ends tonight

 Colbert’s 11-year Late Show run ends tonight

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

Lord of the Rings and Neutral Milk Hotel enthusiast Stephen Colbert will host The Late Show for the final time tonight, ending an 11-year run at CBS after the network canceled the show for what it said were “purely financial” reasons. But many—including Colbert—believe the cancellation came at the behest of President Trump, a frequent target of the comedian’s jokes and ridicule. The top-rated late-night show was informed of its fate last summer, shortly after CBS parent company Paramount settled a $20 billion lawsuit with Trump over its editing of a 60 Minutes interview with then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Colbert called the settlement a “big fat bribe.” Not long after, the FCC approved the Paramount-Skydance merger. The future of late night: Network TV viewership has been down for everyone in the last decade, as younger audiences gravitate away from appointment TV viewing and toward online clips—something that networks have a hard time monetizing. What’s next for Colbert? He is scripting a Lord of the Rings film for Warner Bros., a dream project for the longtime Tolkien nerd. He said he has no plans to get into politics, despite a mild endorsement from former President Barack Obama.

$50 for a movie ticket

 $50 for a movie ticket

Niv Bavarsky

Dinner and a movie? In this economy? We have reached the point where a date night with two movie tickets can run you $100—and that doesn’t even include popcorn. Regal Cinemas recently sold out in mere minutes for $50 tickets to see Dune: Part Three projected in 70 millimeter IMAX film over its December opening weekend, according to the Wall Street Journal, which notes it’s part of a larger premium movie ticket trend: Last year, 17% of film tickets sold were for theaters with bigger screens and better sound (typically at a higher cost), compared with 13% in 2021. Cinema-goers snap up seats in these theaters faster than others, so theater owners are building more of them. By the end of last year, AMC had 517, which is 30% more than the chain had in 2021. But the WSJ says Hollywood studios aren’t sold on movie theaters going big on screens and prices, fearing that upcharging the most devoted cinephiles could backfire by turning a night at the movies from a bit of fun to a special occasion.

Beer is back on the menu, boys

  Beer is back on the menu, boys

Niv Bavarsky

A proverbial ladybug just landed on the cracking-a-cold-one business: The number of drinks sold by Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest brewer, increased last quarter for the first time in three years, the company reported yesterday, surprising analysts and suggesting that a broader chill in the beer industry may be thawing. “Cheers to beer,” AB InBev CEO Michel Doukeris said of the promising results, which also included better-than-expected 12% revenue growth. Major gains in Latin American markets drove the beer beat: The brewer’s Brazil unit notched record growth in sales volumes, sending shares of the Sao Paulo-listed subsidiary soaring by their most in almost 27 years. AB InBev, which owns Corona and Modelo (except in the US), also exceeded expectations in Mexico, overtaking rival Heineken in the region. But…that wasn’t enough to turn beer sales positive for the whole continent. In what could be interpreted by Big Ten students as a challenge, overall North American beer sales continued to fall, as persistent inflation and shifting health trends kept US shoppers away from the alcohol aisle. Good thing AB InBev has expanded into beer that doesn’t get you drunk—revenue from its non-alcohol beverages jumped 27% in the quarter. Sign of the imbibing times? Along with AB InBev… The Danish brewer Carlsberg recently reported that its beer volumes turned positive after rolling downhill last year. Heineken’s total volumes also grew last quarter after falling in 2025, but the breakthrough was buoyed by sales of mixers and ciders. Heineken’s beer volumes actually fell from the same time last year. Looking ahead…AB InBev said it’ll beat out both of those rivals this year. Much like other brewers, the company that slings Budweiser, Bud Light, Stella Artois, and Michelob Ultra—now the best-selling beer in the US—expects a significant summertime boost from World Cup festivities.

Ken Read to lead last-minute US charge for the America's Cup

Ken Read to lead last-minute US charge for the America's Cup

Ken Read to lead last-minute US charge for the America’s Cup

Toby Heppell
April 8, 2026
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With Ken Read as CEO and American Magic’s AC75 in the shed, a 'new' US challenger enters the America's cup ring. But is one year enough to win?

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After months of uncertainty regarding a US presence on the start line, the newly formed American Racing Challenger Team USA has been confirmed as an official challenger for the 38th edition of the America’s Cup.

Representing Sail Newport, the team bridges the gap left by the New York Yacht Club when they and their representative American Magic pulled out the America’s Cup in late October 2025 . Prior to this announcement, the competition in Naples was on track to be the first in history without an American boat.

Sail Newport, although not one of the big traditional clubs typically associated with the America’s Cup does have an interesting AC lineage. The entry is a full-circle moment for the club, an organisation founded in 1983 specifically because the Cup left American shores.


Sail Newport. Photo: Rodrigo Fernandez/Sail Newport 2026
A turnkey takeover?

At present details are still a little thin on the ground – with the promise of more to come shortly. However, while the team carries a new name, the DNA is familiar. In a move that feels less like a fresh start and more like a strategic acquisition of the now-defunct American Magic program, the new syndicate has purchased the previous team’s core assets specifically Patriot: The AC75 yacht that served as American Magic’s primary racing platform and both the American Magic AC40s though how much IP has been acquired alongside these platforms is currently unclear.
The Ken Read Factor

The vision of entrepreneurs Karel Komárek and Chris Welch, American Racing Challenger Team USA, will be led by American yachtsman Ken Read, two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and one of the world’s most accomplished and respected sailors.

If the hardware provides the foundation, the leadership provides the credibility. The appointment of Read as CEO signals that this is a serious sporting endeavour rather than a vanity project. However, even with Read at the helm and a boat already in the shed, the team faces a brutal race against time to be ready.



Chris Welch and Karel Komárek Co-Founders of American Racing Challenger Team USA
Race against the clock

Despite significant protocol upheaval and changes to the event, the foundational (and admittedly clichéd) truth in the America’s Cup remains; ‘there is only one thing you can’t buy: time’.

“We’re under no illusion about the challenges ahead,” Read admitted. “We’re fully focused on building a team that can win the Cup.”

With the 38th America’s Cup set to begin in the Bay of Naples in Spring 2027, American Racing has roughly one year to assemble a world-class crew, optimise Patriot to the latest class rules, and match the flight-time of established powerhouses like Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

Further details on the official crew roster and technical partnerships are expected in the coming months. For now, American fans can breathe a sigh of relief: the stars and stripes will be foiling in Italy.

The 38th America’s Cup is scheduled to take place in Naples, Italy, starting in the Spring of 2027.












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