Urquhart Castle in the Scottish Highlands
The Impressive Castle Ruins on the Banks of Loch Ness
Sep 23, 2009
Many visitors to Urquhart make the stop not only to see the ruins of this once powerful medieval castle and one of Scotland’s largest, but in hopes of spotting Nessie, the famous Loch Ness Monster.
It is from Urquhart Castle that sightings of the mythical water beast have been most often reported, records of which date back to the time of St. Columba in the 6th century CE.
History of Urquhart Castle
Over 1500 years of turbulent history are buried beneath the rubble of Urquhart Castle. Its beginnings go back to around 580 CE, when St. Columba is said to have visited a Pictish nobleman who resided there. The castle that lies in ruin today, however, was built at the beginning of the 13th century by a powerful family named Durward.
In 1296, the castle was captured by Edward I of England, known as Longshanks, in the Wars of Independence, which resulted in Urquhart becoming a royal castle. It was held for the Crown by a succession of royal constables, the royalty themselves having rarely visited.
The castle was seized again at the turn of the 14th century, this time by Donald MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, until it came into possession of the Clan Grant in the 16th century. The Grants, deciding to prevent the castle from becoming a Jacobite stronghold, blew up the castle in 1692. From this point on, Urquhart was left to fall in complete decay.
What to See Near Urquhart Castle
A tour of the castle ruins begins by taking visitors over a rock-cut ditch and a wooden gangway where a drawbridge once stood. Only the lower two storey's of the gatehouse remain relatively intact. Remains of a Guard Room, Constable’s lodging, Water Gate, Service Close, Outer and Inner Close, Chapel, and a Great Hall are all in evidence. At the northern end of the promontory is the tower house, the most prominent feature of the entire castle, known as Grant Tower. The tower maintains a great deal of its grandeur, despite the collapse of much of its south wall, and the view over Loch Ness and the majestic scenery of the Great Glen is superb.
The castle is open daily to visitors from March through October, and there are two Loch Ness exhibitions in the nearby village of Drumnadrochit. The village also offers cruise and boat trips on Loch Ness, one of the best ways to see the wonders of the lake.
While Urquhart Castle itself is in ruins, its majestic setting on Loch Ness makes it a must see stop for anyone touring the Scottish Highlands.
Source:
- Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness by Historic Scotland
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