A Breathtaking Romantic Scottish Ruin (Urquhart Castle (Scotland))

Member Name: lel1969

Product:	Urquhart Castle (Scotland)
Date:	25/02/08 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Views like no other

Disadvantages: None

We often tour Scotland visiting the many spectacular sights there are to visit and enjoy. One of my favourite castles is Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness. This castle has one of the most breathtaking settings.

Formed many years ago by glaciers during the ice age Loch Ness is approximately 700 feet deep and is one of the lochs situated in the 60 mile long Great Glen. Probably the most famous of lochs, Loch Ness gives Urquhart Castle its romantic and mysterious air bringing many visitors to the castle in the hope of catching a glimpse of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster!

This spectacular ruined castle, once one of Scotland's largest, is set high on a rocky peninsula on the North bank of Loch Ness giving stunning views of the Loch. Although quite a ruined castle, the ruins are very extensive and there are many places to investigate, explore and read about. The tower house remains are still in fairly good condition, this is where the inhabitants of the castle lived with their families and entertained their guests. Once you have climbed to the top of the tower you can expect even more spectacular views of the loch and surrounding hills.

In 2002 the castle was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland when a new visitor centre and car park were built. The castle is run by Historic Scotland and is one of their busiest properties. A good-sized car park is available with parking facilities for the disabled and for coaches as well. There is a lift from the car park to the visitor centre although to get to the castle the paths are quite steep. The castle is fully accessible with sound loop facilities and toilets for the disabled.

The new visitor centre offers a café where visitors can relax with a bite to eat, a lovely shop selling souvenirs and local arts and crafts and an exhibition displaying the many medieval artefacts found at the site of the castle with an audio-visual display giving a brief description of the history of the castle.

When you first enter the castle you cross over a small wooden bridge where the drawbridge once was. You can still enter into the main gatehouse and the old kiln room where grain was once dried. Once the castle has been fully explored you can take the steep path right down to the shores of the loch where you can stand and try to skim pebbles across the top of the water or just relax on the banks of the loch. The paths around the ruins are good paths and well laid out.

We visited the castle on many occasions before the visitor centre was built but this was the first time I had visited the visitor centre. I found this display very interesting, looking at all the items found within the castle, tools, eating and drinking vessels, jewellery and much more helped to create the atmosphere of what life must have been like all these many years ago. The turbulent history of the many battles which took place at the site and how the castle fell into English hands, was won back and lost again was very well described by way of a film show and was all very exciting and captivating, but the ultimate part of the display was when the film show had finished, still in darkness, curtains were slowly drawn to reveal a long wall of windows giving stunning views of the castle with the loch and hills as a backdrop. This literally took my breath away, although I'd visited the castle on numerous occasions before the visitor centre opened and have enjoyed the views as often, I was not prepared for the view that sat before me. Built into the rock the visitor centre gives a view like no other. There is also a veranda from the visitor centre where visitors can sit and relax.

Guidebooks can also be bought giving a bit about the history and plans of how the castle might have looked many years ago.

In-keeping with the romantic air of this castle there is often a lone piper standing on the ruins playing the bagpipes, which always brings a tear to my eye and sends a shiver down my spine.

The castle is easily accessible situated on the A82 only 16 miles south of Inverness and is on the National Cycle Network.

Definitely well worth a visit if you are ever up in that neck of the woods and you never know, as well as visiting a spectacular ruined castle with breathtaking scenery, you might even get a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster!

I would advise approximately half a day in order to appreciate what this spectacular, breathtaking ruined castle, visitor centre and panoramic views have to offer.

Obviously as with everywhere, the views are weather dependent, although we have yet to be disappointed.

OPENING TIMES
SUMMER

1st April - 31st October
Monday - Sunday 9.30 am - 6.00 pm

WINTER

1st November - 31st March

Monday - Sunday - 9.30 am - 5.00 pm

Last Entry 45 minutes before closing.

PRICES

Adult £6.50
Child £3.25 (age 5-15) all under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Concession £5.00

This castle can also be hired for corporate events and weddings.

For more information you can visit the Historic Scotland website www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Thanks for reading.

© lel1969 February 2008

Summary: Well worth a visit if you are in the area.