Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness, between Fort William and Inverness.  It is close to the village of Drunnadrochit.  Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness. It is also near this castle that the majority of Nessie (Loch Ness Monster) sightings occur.

The earliest history of the castle may begin in the time of St. Columba in the 6th century. Excavations within the castle were in the range 460-660 AD. It is not known precisely when the castle was built, but records show the existence of a castle on this site from the early 13th century.  

The castle was largely destroyed in 1692 by Williamite troops who had been holding the castle against Jacobite forces The intention was to ensure that the castle could not become a Jacobite stronghold, an intention that was fully achieved as the castle was never repaired and remained as a ruin. Subsequent plundering of the stonework for re-use by locals, and natural decay, further reduced the ruins.  

The castle is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, having been given as a gift to NTS . 

It is Historic Scotland's 3rd busiest site.   According to figures released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, over 280,000 people visited Urquhart Castle in 2009. Despite its name, Urquhart Castle was never owned or inhabited by the Urquhart clan.  The seat of the Urquhart clan is the ruined tower house Castlecraig.  

We start in the visitor's center overlooking the Castle

Its a fair hike to the castle

A beautiful setting, with Loch Ness in the background

A ferry brings back those on a boat tour.  Wonder if they saw Nessie

A fairy ring - one dances in them for luck & wealth

The entrance

Don't be fooled - there's a lot of castle to experience - not just a pile of ruin

The bright green grass, the heather on the hills, the loch, the weathered stone

a perfect place to stop and reflect

Looking up from the loch side of the Water Gate

Blacksmiths worked in this area now overgrown

Working areas

Stones still show smoke stains from cooking

Looking up from the cooking area

Visitors at the highest point in the castle

Jackie says she would rather look at them than 

climb up the stone steps to join them

 Atop the portcullis

notice the slot where the iron shod lattice fit

and dropped down to attempt to defeat a battering ram

The spy hole also served to loose arrows

Across Loch Ness

Inside the visitor's center

A model of the castle at its prime

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And we're on the road to our next stop