Urquhart Castle, Scotland

Posted on by

Urquhart Castle, Scotland

Scotland is home to quite a few castles – most of them pretty cool – but Urquhart tends to stand out. This is probably because it is built along the shores of what is quite possibly the world’s most famous lake: Loch Ness. This impressive, sprawling ruin dates back to the early Middles Ages, and includes a large tower/keep (the Grant Tower), a gatehouse, and many smaller buildings. An earlier version of the castle was taken by the English in 1296, but the present castle dates from the early 1500s, when Clan Grant was given the site and charged with its upkeep and repairs. The last garrison at Urquhart was in 1689, after which it began to fall once more into disuse, with deliberate ruination in 1692. Built on the site of an ancient Pictish fort, it is likely Ireland’s St Columba visited here in 580 AD – and in fact, he is credited with the earliest written record of a Nessie sighting (though in the nearby River Ness, evidently). Urquhart Castle saw much military action. It was captured by the English in 1296, it was later held by the famous Robert the Bruce, and it was actually the only castle holdout against the English in the early 1300s. It changed hands (and alliances) many times over the next three centuries before becoming a “noble ruin” – a majestic and romantic ruin that was all the rage in the 19th an 20th centuries. Today, Urquhart is one of Scotland’s most popular castles. 

Pro tip: Located 17 miles from Inverness, it is a short (and picturesque) drive along Loch Ness. No car? You can grab Bus 919 or 917 from Inverness Bus Station (a short distance from the train station), and arrive at the castle in about 30-40 mins. If you arrive at the end of the day, note that they do not offer discounted entrance fees like most castles & museums. It’s best to leave about 1.5 hours to explore. There are also boat trips that can take you to the castle if you prefer that method.

More Castles: 

Join the discussion!