Urquhart Castle Grampian & Highlands

The magnificently situated Urquhart Castle, on the banks of Loch Ness, remains an impressive stronghold despite its ruinous state.  Once one of Scotland?s largest castles, Urquhart?s remains include a tower house that commands splendid views of the famous loch and Great Glen. Urquhart witnessed considerable conflict throughout its 500 years as a medieval fortress and its history from the 13th to 17th centuries was particularly bloody. Following Edward I?s invasion, it fell into English hands and was then reclaimed and lost again. In the 14th century, it figured prominently in the Scots? struggle for independence and came under the control of Robert the Bruce after he became King of Scots.  In the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle and glen were frequently raided from the west by the ambitious MacDonald Lords of the Isles. The castle?s history and that of the noble families ? Durward, MacDonald and Grant ? who held it, is told in the exhibition and audio-visual display in the new visitor centre. The Centre features an outstanding array of medieval artefacts found at the castle.  Visitors can relax in the café and visit the shop with its local crafts. The visitor centre contains retail, interpretation area, audio-visual presentation and tearoom and toilets on one level. Stunning views of the loch can be obtained from visitor centre veranda.

A thousand years of history Urquhart Castle dominates a rocky promontory jutting into Loch Ness. That promontory has hosted some famous names in its long history. St Columba visited with peaceful intent around AD 580. Not so the English, who seized the castle in 1296. Nor the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles,  who stormed through the glen time and again in the later Middle Ages, ruling with a rod of iron from the mighty castle. In the twilight of its days as a seat of the chief of Clan Grant, Urquhart continued to prove its worth. It was last garrisoned in 1692, and legend claims that the towering gatehouse was blown up so that the castle could never again be a military stronghold. Over a thousand years of stirring history were buried beneath the rubble. Back to top A Pictish fort Urquhart steps into history around AD 580. St Columba was making a long journey from Iona to the court of Bridei, king of the Picts, at Inverness. As he was passing up Loch Ness, he was called to the residence of an elderly Pictish nobleman at Airdchartdan (Urquhart). Emchath was close to death, and Columba baptised him and his entire household. We cannot be sure that Emchath?s residence was on the rocky promontory. However, the discovery of a fragment of Pictish brooch (dating from the late 8th or early 9th century) strongly hints that it may well have been the location. Back to top A mighty medieval stronghold From the 13th century, until its demise in 1692, Urquhart saw much military action. In 1296 it was captured by Edward I of England ?Hammer of the Scots?. Thereafter, the stronghold passed back and forth between Scottish and English control. In 1332, in the dark days following King Robert Bruce?s death, Urquhart remained the only Highland castle holding out against the English. Soon after the English threat evaporated the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles arrived. Time and again, they swept through Glen Urquhart in their quest for more power. The castle passed back and forth between the Crown and the Lords of the Isles like a bone between two dogs. Their last raid, in 1545, proved the worst. The Islesmen got away with an enormous hoard, including 20 guns and three great boats. Back to top A noble ruin When the last soldiers marched out in 1692, they blew it up. The castle soon fell into decay. Part of the Grant Tower crashed to the ground in 1715 during a violent storm. But attitudes changed, and during the 19th century the ancient stronghold came to be viewed as a noble ruin in a majestic setting. It passed into state care in 1913, and is now one of the most visited of all Scotland?s castles. Why not combine your visit to Urquhart Castle with other famous attractions and activities in Inverness such as Cairgorm Funicular Mountain Railway