Overview
Discover more than 1,000 years of stirring history centred on the Great Glen. The magnificently situated Urquhart Castle, on the shore of Loch Ness, has seen some of the most dramatic chapters in our nation’s story.
Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart saw great conflict during its 500 years as a medieval fortress. Control of the castle passed back and forth between the Scots and English during the Wars of Independence. The power struggles continued, as the Lords of the Isles regularly raided both castle and glen up until the 1500s.
The last of the government troops garrisoned here during the Jacobite Risings blew up the castle when they left. Urquhart’s iconic ruins remain, offering glimpses into medieval times and the lives of its noble residents.
Jacobite Festival at Urquhart Castle
Meet Sir Rodrick Chisholm at Urquhart Castle from Saturday 17 to Sunday 25 August. Learn all about when he joined the Jacobites for the siege of the castle and discover the weapons and tactics of the Highland clans. You will also hear all about the life and times of the Highland people.
This activity is included in castle admission, free for Historic Scotland members. We recommend booking your visit online in advance for the best price and to guarantee entry.
Please note, there is limited visitor parking available at Urquhart Castle. Parking for cars and coaches must be booked in advance. Parking for vehicles like campervans and mini buses cannot be booked in advance.
What to see and do
- Admire the strategic setting of the castle, on a rocky promontory with an open outlook up and down Loch Ness
- Soak up the atmosphere of one of Scotland’s most famous lochs
- Take in the Grant Tower
- Imagine splendid banquets staged in the Great Hall
- Peer into the gloomy prison cell, said to have held legendary Gaelic bard Dòmhnall Donn
- See the Urquhart Ewer and other medieval artefacts left by castle residents
- View the full-sized trebuchet
- Take our fun fact-finding quiz (also in French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Scots and Spanish).
- Tour through the castle with our audio guide using your own mobile phone with internet access - included in ticket price
