Eilean Donan, how to visit the most authentic castle in Scotland

From my point of view, one of the most attractive castles that you will be able to visit in your trip through scotland you find it next to the Isle of Skye.

This is the Eilean Donan Castle, located very close to the town of Kyle for Lochalsh, just opposite Skye, and on the southern edge of the inhospitable Wester Ross region.

This small medieval castle It has a spectacular location, on a small islet, known as the Donan Island, within the lake (actually a tongue of the sea) called Lochalsh.

And precisely because of this location, this fortress has been the protagonist of several films, such as "The immortals", with Sean Connery y Christopher Lambert.

Curiosities about the history of Eilean Donan Castle

El Eilean Donan Castle It was built at the beginning of thirteenth century, although the small Donan Islet It was already used since the year 800 as a settlement to defend itself from Viking raids.

Between the 13th and 17th centuries, the castle had different structures and dimensions.

As a curious milestone in its history for the Spanish, in the year 1719 the Eilean Donan Castle It was occupied by a Spanish detachment that supported the defenders of the King James VII of Scotland, which had been dethroned years before.

El Eilean Donan Castle's prominence in several films It is easy to understand if you have the opportunity to visit it.

It has a beautiful location on an islet within a spit of sea, with its beautiful access via a stone bridge, which makes it one of the most photogenic Scottish castles.

Furthermore, the interior of this castle It is one of the most attractive and most cared for that we can find among the castles you can visit in Scotland, which is usually used for various events, including wedding celebrations.

Movies filmed in Eilean Donan

This is what various directors have understood since 1948, when the Eilean Donan Castle It was a location of the movie “The Last Stuart”, starring David Niven, or in 1953, for the movie “The Lord of Ballantree”, with Errol Flynn.

But perhaps it was movie “The Immortals”, from 1986, with Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert, the one that has given this castle the most cinematic fame.

It has also been a location for a more recent James Bond movie, “The World is Not Enough”Of 1999.

The last occasion in which the Eilean Donan Castle He has once again been the protagonist of a film, it was in 2008 in the North American comedy “My girlfriend's wedding”, by British director Paul Weiland, in which the castle hosts the protagonist's wedding.

What to see when visiting Eilean Donan Castle

Thanks to this reconstruction, you will now be able visit a real medieval castle whose rooms you will find completely decorated with furniture and elements from the period, which allows us to feel the medieval atmosphere.

You will access the castle by crossing a bridge with several arches that takes you to the Donan Islet, and you will enter through a central patio.

After visiting a multimedia exhibition that shows the Eilean Donan Castle History, you can tour various rooms where you will see beautiful furniture and numerous objects from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Banquet Hall in Eilean Donan

El Banquet Hall of the Eilean Donan Castle It is not, by any means, one of the largest that you will be able to see on your visit to Scottish castles.

But yes, perhaps it is the one that shows the most beautiful period decoration that will make you feel that you are still living there.

To highlight the curious Piper Gallerys, also used as a chapel pulpit.

As a curiosity, the large oval table in the center of this main hall of the castle was on one of the ships of the Admiral Nelson.

castle kitchen

Apart from the bedrooms, the other great highlight of the Eilean Donan castle is the kitchen.

This is a perfect recreation of the 1930s kitchen, perfectly decorated as it was used by the new owners.

I can tell you that compared to the kitchen that you can also visit in the Stirling Castle, without a doubt that of Eilean Donan It is much more attractive.

Visiting hours of Eilean Donan Castle

The Eilean Donan Castle visiting hours They are, from April to October, from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m. (last entry, 17 p.m.), and the rest of the year, from 10 a.m. to 16 p.m.

With the exception that in July and August the castle opens at 9 a.m. and in September, at 9,30:XNUMX a.m.

Eilean Donan Castle ticket prices

The ticket prices to visit Eilean Donan Castle They are, the general price, 10 pounds, with a special price of 9 pounds for seniors +60, 6 pounds for children from 5 to 15 years old, and 29 pounds for a family of two adults and up to three children from 5 to 15 years old.

In summary, the Eilean Donan Castle It should be a must visit if you make a car trip through scotland.

Or an original place to celebrate a wedding, since it is currently used for different events, including wedding ceremonies.

Map: how to get to Eilean Donan Castle

El Eilean Donan castle It is about 4 hours away north of glasgow and about four and a half hours northwest of Edinburgh.