Eilean Donan Castle: A Beautiful 13th Century Scottish Castle Near Kyle of Lochalsh
Eilean Donan Castle is a 13th century castle in the Scottish Highlands, perched on the beautiful Loch Duich near Kyle of Lochalsh.
The castle was a stronghold against the Vikings, and was at different times occupied by the MacKenzies of Kintail, the Macraes and also, during the Jacobite uprising, by Spanish troops.
The castle was destroyed in 1719, by three Royal Navy frigates.
Eilean Donan Castle was thankfully restored to its former glory, between the years of 1919 and 1932.
An arch bridge was built which connected the island on which the castle is perched, Eilean Donan, o the mainland, and this allowed for easier access to Eilean Donan Castle.
Today the castle is home to the Clan Macrae, and is open to the public for visits, being owned by the Conchra Charitable Trust.
Eilean Donan Castle is an iconic building and is one of the most photographed sights in the British Isles.
As such, it is no surprise that it has featured in many films and TV programmes, including "The Private Life of Sherlock Homes" (1970, starring Robert Stephens and Colin Blakely), "Highlander" (1986, starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery), "Entrapment" (1999, starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones), the James Bond classic "The World Is Not Enough" (1999, starring Pierce Brosnan and Robert Carlyle), "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007, starring Cate Blanchett and Clive Owen), and "Made of Honor" (2007, starring Patrick Dempsey).
If you would like to visit Eilean Donan Castle, here are the opening hours of the Castle complex: Castle and Exhibitions opening hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm (last admission at 5:00pm), every day from 1st March till 31st October.
Opens at 9:00am during July and August.
Castle Visitor Centre, Reception, Coffee Shop and Toilets: 10:00am - 5:00pm, every day from 1st March till 31st October.
Castle Gift Shop: 10:00am - 5:00pm, from February to December.
The admission prices to Eilean Donan Castle at the time of writing were: Adults: £5.
50.
Concession (Students and Seniors): £4.
50.
Family (2 Adults + 3 Children Aged 5-15): £13.
50.
Under 5s: Free.
Group Rate (minimum of 12 persons): £4.
00 If you would like to take a tour to Eilean Donan Castle, you can go from Edinburgh with Haggis Adventures, MacBACKPACKERS, Timberbush Tours, Rabbies Trailburners and Highland Experience Tours; from Glasgow with Timberbush Tours; and from Inverness with The Hebridean Explorer.
The castle is just beside the village of Dornie, on the shores of Loch Duich, 8 miles from Kyle of Lochalsh, the nearest main town.
You can get to Kyle of Lochalsh by coach (Scottish Citylink) from Inverness, Fort William and Glasgow; by train (First Scotrail) from Inverness, with connections to Edinburgh and Glasgow; or of course by car.
By road, Kyle of Lochalsh is 74 miles from Fort William, 78 miles from Inverness, 182 miles from Glasgow and 201 miles from Edinburgh.
It lies on the A87 road, which connects with the A82 road, running between Glasgow and Inverness.
There is accommodation in Dornie, and also in Kyle of Lochalsh.
For more information on Eilean Donan Castle itself, see our website.
The castle was a stronghold against the Vikings, and was at different times occupied by the MacKenzies of Kintail, the Macraes and also, during the Jacobite uprising, by Spanish troops.
The castle was destroyed in 1719, by three Royal Navy frigates.
Eilean Donan Castle was thankfully restored to its former glory, between the years of 1919 and 1932.
An arch bridge was built which connected the island on which the castle is perched, Eilean Donan, o the mainland, and this allowed for easier access to Eilean Donan Castle.
Today the castle is home to the Clan Macrae, and is open to the public for visits, being owned by the Conchra Charitable Trust.
Eilean Donan Castle is an iconic building and is one of the most photographed sights in the British Isles.
As such, it is no surprise that it has featured in many films and TV programmes, including "The Private Life of Sherlock Homes" (1970, starring Robert Stephens and Colin Blakely), "Highlander" (1986, starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery), "Entrapment" (1999, starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones), the James Bond classic "The World Is Not Enough" (1999, starring Pierce Brosnan and Robert Carlyle), "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007, starring Cate Blanchett and Clive Owen), and "Made of Honor" (2007, starring Patrick Dempsey).
If you would like to visit Eilean Donan Castle, here are the opening hours of the Castle complex: Castle and Exhibitions opening hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm (last admission at 5:00pm), every day from 1st March till 31st October.
Opens at 9:00am during July and August.
Castle Visitor Centre, Reception, Coffee Shop and Toilets: 10:00am - 5:00pm, every day from 1st March till 31st October.
Castle Gift Shop: 10:00am - 5:00pm, from February to December.
The admission prices to Eilean Donan Castle at the time of writing were: Adults: £5.
50.
Concession (Students and Seniors): £4.
50.
Family (2 Adults + 3 Children Aged 5-15): £13.
50.
Under 5s: Free.
Group Rate (minimum of 12 persons): £4.
00 If you would like to take a tour to Eilean Donan Castle, you can go from Edinburgh with Haggis Adventures, MacBACKPACKERS, Timberbush Tours, Rabbies Trailburners and Highland Experience Tours; from Glasgow with Timberbush Tours; and from Inverness with The Hebridean Explorer.
The castle is just beside the village of Dornie, on the shores of Loch Duich, 8 miles from Kyle of Lochalsh, the nearest main town.
You can get to Kyle of Lochalsh by coach (Scottish Citylink) from Inverness, Fort William and Glasgow; by train (First Scotrail) from Inverness, with connections to Edinburgh and Glasgow; or of course by car.
By road, Kyle of Lochalsh is 74 miles from Fort William, 78 miles from Inverness, 182 miles from Glasgow and 201 miles from Edinburgh.
It lies on the A87 road, which connects with the A82 road, running between Glasgow and Inverness.
There is accommodation in Dornie, and also in Kyle of Lochalsh.
For more information on Eilean Donan Castle itself, see our website.
