Name: Urquhart Castle
Address: Drumnadrochit, Inverness IV63 6XJ, UK
Telephone: 01456 450551
Rating: 4.5

Large, ruined castle dating from 1509, overlooking Loch Ness, with visitor centre and cafe.

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Urquhart Castle was one of the major castles captured by the English during Edward I's invasion of Scotland in 1296.

English Invasion

The Lords of the Isles repeatedly seized Urquhart Castle in the late Middle Ages, aiming to expand their territory into the northeast.

Frequent Takeovers

In the 1500s, Clan Grant was entrusted with the castle's repair and restoration, bringing it back into use.

Clan Grant's Stewardship

Urquhart Castle was abandoned in the 17th century, with its structures deliberately damaged to prevent the Jacobites from claiming it.

Abandonment and Destruction

The Grant Tower, built in the 14th century and rebuilt in the 16th century, is the tallest surviving part of the castle, despite a severe storm damaging its southern wall in the early 18th century.

Tallest Surviving Structure

The upper bailey, located on a mound, houses the earliest defenses of Urquhart Castle, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have contained stables and a grand hall.

Urquhart Castle

Did You Know?

English Invasion

Frequent Takeovers

Clan Grant's Stewardship

Abandonment and Destruction

Location