Urquhart Castle

Urquhart stands on a rocky promontory jutting into Loch Ness, a site occupied from the early medieval period and fortified in stone from the thirteenth century; it was fought over repeatedly and finally held by a government garrison who, on withdrawing in 1692, blew up the gatehouse to prevent its reuse, leaving the tumbled masonry that visitors see beside the entrance. The Grant Tower at the north end still stands to several storeys and is climbable, giving the view down the loch. A working replica trebuchet stands on the lawn. Because the castle sits at one of the deepest and most photographed stretches of Loch Ness, it is also the most common vantage point for monster reports, and the visitor centre addresses the loch's geology and depth alongside the castle's history.

What you actually see

• The blown gatehouse - masonry tumbled where the garrison destroyed it in 1692.
• The Grant Tower - a tower house standing several storeys, climbable.
• The loch view - a promontory over one of the deepest stretches of Loch Ness.
• The trebuchet - a full-size replica siege engine on the lawn.

When to go

April to October for full opening and the boat connections along the loch; the site is one of the busiest paid attractions in Scotland and coach parties fill it from mid-morning. Early and late in the day are far quieter.

Honest expectations

The car park fills and entry is by timed ticket at busy periods. The castle is a fragmentary ruin with only the tower standing high. The walk down from the visitor centre is steep, with a lift available. It is exposed to wind off the loch.

Nearby

Drumnadrochit and the Loch Ness exhibitions are two kilometres north; Inverness lies at the head of the loch.