Dunluce is a Medieval-style castle built on the Southern coast of Amber with direct access to the bay around it. It was built originally by Oberon and used as an annual escape from the Amber Winter or a palace by the seaside to enjoy the sea breezes in the Summer.
It was recently purchased from the Crown by Princess Myfanwy (along with Bowmaris Castle, and the gift to the Princess of 1,000 miles of land around both Castles from Prince Benedict), Dunluce is now the principal residence and home of the Princess Myfanwy in Amber.
The Castle, with its foundations strengthened, appears unchanged from the outside. Internally, it has been substantially remodelled in the Moorish style, with high ceilings and pools of shallow water throughout the ground floor and Courtyard to push cooler breezes through the interior. There are potted plants everywhere and tall floor-based Moorish lights with their coloured glass reflected all around the inner Courtyard by night. Parts of the castle have been redecorated in tiles of intricate Moorish design.
The Courtyard has a clear roof that can be pulled across to protect the inhabitants from the occasional storm. It has a fine selection of soft and comfortable seating for conversations and gatherings but can be quickly converted into a large dining area or, indeed, a hub for military activity.
The sole bathing pool within the Castle is in Myfanwy’s chambers.
Bedchambers are mostly off the corridor that runs around the Central Courtyard, a storey above it. They are comfortable without being ostentatious and all have en-suite facilities. The Castle is also equipped with modern restrooms.
There are large internal spaces for large and private meetings, formal dining, workspaces and a hamman. The castle has a massive working kitchen, together with storage and preparation areas and a substantial wine and spirit stock. There is living and work space for the troops garrisoned here (all in Myfanwy’s muted green uniforms with a flash of a gold Sun against a blood red background) and they can be seen carrying out various duties both here and out to Bowmaris. Both men and women are among her military staff. There is a small ugly brown dog that hangs about the Castle for much of the time. He wanders freely most of the day and night, throughout the castle including kitchens and dining rooms. There are gardens dotted in and about the castle mostly planted with highly scented roses.
Steps lead from the castle down to several bays. One is sheltered and has a lido pool built into the sea where people can bathe safely without unwanted intrusions from sharks, jellyfish and the like. Beyond that, the waters are shallow and several break waters protect this bay from the more rigorous actions of Moon and tide. On the far side of the bay is a jetty and this is deeper water where a private yacht might moor safely and the older generation can swim out to enjoy more exciting sea action. At the far end of this bay are the small boats of fishermen who bring their catch each day up to the Castle and inland to be sold at market in the small village that has woken up again around Bowmaris.
There are a few paintings on the plain internal walls of Dunluce. Among them: a landscape of Kolvir, another from near Garnath and a number of portraits.
- One is a family portrait of Oberon, Cymnea and the five oldest children: Myfanwy is safely between her eldest brothers looking at them adoringly, sat in front of her Father riding a horse, with an ugly brown dog is ambling alongside the horse.
- In another, she is giving the viewer an almost wanton gaze, a ripe peach is held in her hand: this was the painting by which she was to have been sold to the highest bidder.
- In another, two figures in plate have finished a tournament fight. The winner has their back to the viewer but has just removed their helmet to show a long mane of palest blonde hair. The look of astonishment, amusement or outright anger on the tourney attendees and the build of the Victor strongly suggests that it was Myfanwy, fighting under no colours.
- There is a matched pair of portraits of Benedict and Myfanwy, sibling affection is clear between them, and a separate one of the pair of them clearly grief stricken.
- Finally, a portrait of Cymnea’s six eldest children. Finndo, Osric, Lucien, Matthias and Benedict all formally seated with Myfanwy sprawled inelegantly right across their laps. Not a one of them has a straight face.
All of the paintings that formerly hung in the Castle have been returned to the Castle Amber collection or, in the case of more intimate images, to the subjects of the painting e.g Darlene.