Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle occupies a strategic peninsula jutting into Loch Ness at Strone Point near Drumnadrochit, and has been one of the largest and most fought-over castles in Scotland since its origins in the 13th century. The site has been inhabited since the Iron Age; the medieval castle grew around a 13th-century enclosure built by the Durward family. Control of Urquhart changed hands numerous times during the Wars of Scottish Independence — Edward I of England seized it in 1296, and it was later recaptured by Scottish forces. The castle was largely abandoned after 1689 when it was blown up to prevent Jacobite occupation, leaving the evocative ruins visible today. The principal surviving structure is the Grant Tower, a five-storey tower house on the promontory tip, from which the views down Loch Ness toward Fort Augustus are among the finest in the Highlands. The visitor centre at the entrance contains an introductory film on the castle's history, a collection of medieval artefacts excavated from the site including a trebuchet reconstruction, and archaeological finds. Walking the full site — from the visitor centre across the earthworks to the Grant Tower and back — takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours. The castle is reached via a steep path from the car park; the descent to the ruins and the lakeside are moderately demanding. Evening light is particularly beautiful on the tower when the loch reflects the surrounding hills.