Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel

Explore one of Scotland’s oldest stone castles and its extensive wooded grounds.

Welcome to our learning hub

An excellent setting for cross curricular learning and discovering more about local heritage, landscape and environment. It’s long history links to key topics from Scotland’s past including castle life, the Wars of Independence, Vikings and Jacobites. The summit offers sweeping views of the adjacent coastline and extensive wooded grounds make this an excellent setting for inspiring outdoor and play based learning.

A group of Viking reenactors with helmets, spears and shield in different colours and designs are in a battle line.

Book a learning visit

Contact: Dunstaffnage Castle staff

Email: dunstaffnagecastle.vo@hes.scot

Telephone: 01631 562 465

Use our site information sheet to help plan your visit.

Please contact us in advance to discuss the needs of your group or to arrange a planning visit.

Items from the pack a cauldron kit: a metal cauldron; wooden cups and storage vessels; plastic children's food items including a roast chicken, fish, eggs, a cut of meat, carrots and other vegetables.
Various arts and crafts materials (coloured pencils, scissors, sellotape, paper, craft instructions and example crafted crown and shield) laid out on some long tables in a castle room.
A young boy helps his mum and dad put the foam blocks together to complete the arch activity.
The various items from Castle Life handling box (helmet, plate, goblet, quill, manacles, arrow, chainmail) in an artistic pile.
Close up of some of the Abbey Life handling box items (seeds in a box, candles) as children's hands pick them up to investigate.

What's on offer for learning groups

Contact us to arrange:

  • an object handling session, options are:
    • medieval Castle Life
    • medieval Abbey Life
    • pack a cauldron kit

Other self-led things to do are:

  • arts and crafts
  • build the arch kit
  • children's quizzes
  • games
    • floor snakes and ladders
    • giant Jenga
    • quoits
    • giant 4 in a row
    • spinning tops