- Open
- £16 adult · £8 child
- Assistance dogs only
- Parking on site, free
- Historic Environment Scotland
Quick answer
Urquhart Castle is a ruined castle near Drumnadrochit, Highland, managed by Historic Environment Scotland. Adult tickets cost £16, and Historic Environment Scotland members go free. Only assistance dogs are allowed. There is a free car park on site.
Urquhart Castle opening times
- Mon 12 09:3017:00
- Tue 13 09:3017:00
- Today Wed 14 09:3017:00
- Thu 15 09:3017:00
- Fri 16 09:3017:00
- Sat 17 09:3017:00
- Sun 18 09:3017:00
| Season | Dates | Days | Hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer (1 April – 31 August) | 1 Apr to 31 Aug | Daily | 09:30 to 20:15 | 19:15 |
| September | 1 Sep to 30 Sep | Daily | 09:30 to 18:00 | 17:00 |
| October (current season) | 1 Oct to 31 Oct | Daily | 09:30 to 17:00 | 16:00 |
| Winter (1 November – 31 March) | 1 Nov to 31 Mar | Daily | 09:30 to 16:30 | 15:30 |
Closed on 25 Dec, 26 Dec.
Closes 16:00 on 24 December; opens 11:00 on 1 January; closed 25-26 December. Tickets often sell out; none sold at the castle once sold out online.
Urquhart Castle tickets and prices
| Ticket | Online | On the day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £14 | £16 |
| Concession | £11 | £13 |
| Child | £7 | £8 |
| Historic Environment Scotland members | Free | Free |
Getting to Urquhart Castle and parking
These open in your own maps app. Nothing is sent from this page until you choose one.
- Address
- IV63 6XL
- Parking
- Car park on site, free. Free but limited; only guaranteed when booked online in advance. Accessible bays.
- By train
- Beauly is 10.7 miles away.
- Public transport
- The castle is listed as reachable by public transport, and visitors are directed to Traveline Scotland to plan their journey.
Dogs, accessibility and facilities
Dogs
Assistance dogs only- Pet dogs: not allowed.
- Assistance dogs: welcome.
- No dogs except assistance dogs.
Accessibility
Partly step-free- Step-free: in parts of the site.
- Paths and surfaces: Steep tarmac ramp to the visitor centre and steep tarmac path to the castle; tarmac or bound-gravel paths; Grant Tower and Watergate by steps.
- Accessible toilet: yes.
- Mobility scooter hire: yes.
Food and facilities
- Toilets Yes
- Café Yes
- Shop Yes
- Picnic area Yes
- Visitor centre Yes
- Audio guide Yes
What to see at Urquhart Castle
- 01
Great hall
The main hall, used for feasts and ceremony.
- 02
Views
Notable views from the site.
- 03
Keep
The main fortified tower of the castle.
- 04
Gatehouse
The fortified main entrance.
- 05
Dungeon
Prison cells or a dungeon.
History of Urquhart Castle
- 1296 Captured by Edward I of England
- 1332 Only Highland castle to hold out against the English
- 1509 James IV grants the barony to the Grant family
- 1545 Last and worst raid by the Islesmen
- 1692 Government garrison leaves and blows up the castle
- 1715 Part of the Grant Tower collapses in a storm
- 1913 Passes into state care
Photos
-
Balon Greyjoy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source -
Balon Greyjoy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Castles near Urquhart Castle
All 5 castles in HighlandFAQs
How much does it cost to visit Urquhart Castle?
Adult tickets cost £16, and Historic Environment Scotland members go free.
Where do you park at Urquhart Castle?
There is a free car park on site.
Is there a café at Urquhart Castle?
Yes, there is a café on site.
When is Urquhart Castle open?
In the summer (1 april – 31 august) season it opens every day from 09:30 to 20:15. Check the opening times above for the other seasons and closed dates.
Sources
- Page on api.postcodes.io
- Page on historicenvironment.scot
- Page on historicenvironment.scot
- Page on portal.historicenvironment.scot
- Wikidata
- Page on historicenvironment.scot
- Page on historicenvironment.scot
We are independent and not affiliated with Historic Environment Scotland. Prices and times can change at short notice, so check the operator's site on the day. How we check our data