How to visit Urquhart Castle in Loch Ness (Scotland): schedules, prices

I take it for granted that you know that in a car trip through scotland It is an essential Loch Ness visit, In the Highlands Highlands.

In this lake that extends almost 40 kilometers, and where I bet it will be difficult for you to see its famous monster, the great center of tourist attention must be the Urquhart Castle.

In reality, these are the historical remains of a large fortification that, due to their location, make a highly recommended visit.

Curiosities history Urquhart Castle

What you can see today along the shore of the Lake Ness They are the remains that remained after the fire of the castle caused in 1692 by the English, to prevent it from being taken over by the Jacobites.

This political movement wanted the restoration of the Stuarts in the kingdoms of England and Scotland, after the dethronement of the Catholic King James II.

Since then, the Urquhart Castle It was not rebuilt again.

The origin of a fortification in the location where the urquhart castle in the Lake Ness, dates back to the 6th century, although it was at the end of the 13th century when the castle was built with the structure that we can now visit.

During the following centuries, and until its aforementioned destruction in 1692, it was a cause of conflict between the English and the Scots, having various occupations.

What to see when visiting Urquhart Castle

El Urquhart Castle you find it in the middle of the elongated Lake Ness, on the west bank, just three kilometers from the town of Drumnadrochit.

When you arrive at the car park next to the castle ruins, you will access through an underground passage to the Visitors Center, where there is a store remembrances and a small cafe.

It is recommended that before heading to visit the ruins, go down the path that will lead to the shore of the Lake Ness, go through the projection room located in the aforementioned Visitors Center.

In this room you can attend a multimedia presentation, with a duration of ten minutes, which will tell you about the turbulent history of urquhart castle, and will serve as an excellent introduction to your visit.

I warn you that at the end of the presentation the curtains behind the projection screen will open, revealing a large window through which you will have a beautiful first view. panoramic view of Urquhart Castle.

After this first presentation, it is time to go down to what remains of the castle to walk through the ruins.

The most notable point is the six-story tower whose terrace you can access, from where you will have the best views of Loch Ness, with the remains of Urquhart's enclosure in the foreground.

Also, if you are lucky, your period of visit of Urquhart Castle coincides with the demonstration that is periodically made of the use and handling of the kilt, the famous kilt.

You will see that, in reality, the kilt It is a long tunic five meters long that with its curious arrangement becomes the traditional garment used by Scottish men.

Urquhart Castle visit schedules

The Urquhart Castle visiting hours in the Lake Ness They are currently, from April to October, from 9,30:17 a.m. to XNUMX p.m.

In the rest of the year, from November to March, you can visit the castle from 10 a.m. to 16,30:XNUMX p.m.

Visitor admission is always up to 45 minutes before closing time.

Urquhart Castle ticket prices

The ticket prices to visit Urquhart Castle They are 9,60 pounds for adults, 7,70 pounds for seniors+65 and 5,80 pounds for children from 5 to 15 years old.