A ruined castle (Old Inverlochy Castle (Scotland))

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Old Inverlochy Castle (Scotland)
Date:	05/06/08 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A n interesting visit

Disadvantages: none

We stayed on the west coast of Scotland for our holidays and had to go into the nearest big town Fort William. After spending the morning there we headed out along the A 82 to wards Inverness After only about a mile there is a small sign and a turn to the castle. A map can be found at. http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf? x=212500&y=775500&z=3&sv=212500,775500 &st=4&ar =N&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf. The castle is on the edge of the town in a semi industrial area.
After we too the turn we note a car park in front of us we decide not to take it, but turned right where we found free parking in another car park. The castle was situated between the two. It seems quite tranquil around the immediate castle are

We had taken a packed lunch with us to eat at the castle so we strolled to the castle the castle is in a small area of parkland. Enterence to the castle was free. This castle although a ruin is quite completes the lower walls and towers still a fairly solid construction. There are no tea rooms no tourist shop, just the crumbing stone walls.

We walked into the castle through where the door must have once been. There is no longer a moat around the castle .This castle was a small castle. This castle was built as a square courtyard and has 4 round towers in the corners. The height of the castle is about 10 metres/30 foot high not as high as it was originally. . The children loved this castle and the adults interested to see the construction. We all went into the corner towers some of them had the remains of a couple of steps going upwards but we told the children not to climb. The courtyard was grassed. We chose a corner to sit in and eat our packed lunch. It was a lovely place for a picnic restful and atmospheric. After lunch we went out of the entrance at the back of the castle this led down to the river Lochy a few trees and a grassy bank by the side of the river we could have eaten our lunch there, but with the little ones we preferred not to sit near the river. A footpath led booth ways along side of the river we walked a short distance and I would have liked to have walked further but we had other plans for the afternoon.

I am glad we stopped at the castle to have our picnic we were there for about 1 ½ hours saw only 6 other visitors who strolled through.

The Old Inverlochy castle was built in the 13 century and was quite an important castle taking part in two major battles One in 1431 the other in the civil war in 16 40 .

The castle was replaced by the fort built by Oliver Cromwell and slowly got in to the state of disrepair it is in now.

There is a hotel in Torlundy with the name Inverlochy Castle so does not confuse.

If you are in this area do stop and have a look there is not a great deal to see you could explore it within ½ an hour or prolong your visit with a picnic or a walk along the river. I thoroughly recommend it.

Summary: A ruined castle