Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most recognised castles in Scotland. It is, without doubt, a Scottish icon and certainly one of the most popular visitor attractions in the Highlands. When you first set eyes on it, it is easy to understand why so many people flock to its stout doors year after year. Strategically located on its own little island, overlooking the Isle of Skye, at the point where three great sea-lochs meet, and surrounded by the majestic splendour of the forested mountains of Kintail, Eilean Donan’s setting is truly breath-taking.

Crossing the bridge to today’s castle, the fourth version, you can clearly understand why Bishop Donan chose the tranquil spot back in 634 AD to settle on it and create a monastic cell. The first castle was later established in the 13th century by Alexander II in an effort to help protect the area from Viking incursions. At this stage in history the original castle encompassed the entire island and is believed to have been constructed with seven towers connected by a massive curtain wall. Over the centuries, the castle contracted and expanded for reasons that still remain a mystery to this day, until 1719 when it was involved in one of the lesser known Jacobite uprisings. When the British Government learned that the castle was occupied by Jacobite leaders along with a garrison of Spanish soldiers, three Royal Navy frigates were sent to deal with the uprising. On the 10th of May 1719, the three heavily armed warships moored a short distance off the castle and bombarded it with cannon. With walls of up to 5 metres thick, these cannon had little impact, but eventually the castle was overwhelmed by force. Discovering 343 barrels of gunpowder inside, the Commanding officer gave orders to blow the castle up; following which Eilean Donan lay in silent ruin for the best part of two hundred years.

The castle that visitors enjoy so much today was reconstructed as a family home between 1912 and 1932 by Lt Col John MacRae-Gilstrap, and incorporated much of the ruins from the 1719 destruction. At this point the bridge was added; a structure that is as much a part of the classic image as the very castle itself.

Visitors now have the opportunity to wander round most of the fabulous internal rooms of the castle viewing period furniture, Jacobean artefacts, displays of weapons and fine art. Historical interest and heritage are in abundance with informed guides happy to share a wealth of knowledge. Extremely popular with families, a visit to Eilean Donan promises lots of fun for the kids whether it be swinging a Claymore, spying through the spy holes, lifting the cannon balls, gazing at the fearsome portcullis or exploring the ancient battlements. Wildlife surrounds the island too, with regular viewings of porpoise, dolphins, otters and birdlife. For those feeling particularly romantic, weddings can even be arranged inside the beautiful Banqueting Hall.

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Address

A87, Highland, United Kingdom
See all sites in Highland

Details

Founded: c. 1250
Category: Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Tami Wensenk (5 months ago)
Amazing tour!!! Definitely worth a stop, even in the rain! We didn't do an audio tour (not sure if it was available) but the employees that are throughout the castle are super friendly and helpful and enjoyed answering all our questions. The family still shows up from time to time also!
Jennifer Miles (5 months ago)
The most beautiful castle I visited while in Scotland! Well worth the drive and definitely go inside to see the beautiful artifacts and historical pieces. Richard was fabulous and gave my friends and I a proper tour in the first main room, with a lovely historical explanation of how the castle came to be. Also, the timeline wallpaper in the hallway of the upper bedrooms was amazing. If only they sold copies of it in the gift shop!
Leandro Lopes (6 months ago)
This is one of the filming sites of the movie Highlander. Magnificent scenario with the castle siting on an island. Give that sense of being transported back to the Middle Ages with all the natural elements surrounding the castle being there. Apart from the beauty of the site, it has all the necessary facilities like, cafe, food hall, gift shop, toilets and a good size car park. No need to buy tickets in advance as they’re available on-site from the ticket office or the automatic machines. Also, tickets are available to go inside the castle or just to see its surroundings.
April Lambert (7 months ago)
Definitely pay the money to go inside this place, it's beautiful. Photography/video is not allowed in the best rooms of the castle. The staff here were all very nice. The views are stunning. The gift shop is fairly reasonable for prices as is the Cafe. Very awesome history and well worth spending at least an hour or two here.
Andrew Scrugham (10 months ago)
Beautiful castle. The rain can impact your visit for the bad somewhat heavily as it did ours but it is still a very magical experience. The exhibits inside are well laid out and pretty solid, and the guides are helpful and friendly. I may not call this the best castle in all of Scotland but it’s definitely worth a visit and not too far out of the way. Overall a very good stop.
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