The visit to Scotland almost always ends in Edinburgh, but there is much beyond it, especially if we go to the Highlands or Highlands, which have become fashionable thanks to the Outlander series. Well, in this area you can find routes of ancient stone castles that can be visited, and among them is Urquhart Castle, which is also located on the shores of the famous Loch Ness.
Today we will see some of the history of this castle that is currently in ruins. We will also see how you can get to this area of Scotland to enjoy it. Because it is a unique tour, with incredible landscapes and a lot of history.
History of Urquhart Castle
This castle is located on a ledge in the northern part of Loch Ness. From its location you can see that it is an ideal area to monitor the lake and the surroundings. This quality made it become an area that seems to have been inhabited in ancient times. Near the castle there is a stone pyramid that apparently dates from two thousand years before Christ, offering evidence that this area had been inhabited for a long time. There are also remains of the presence of the Picts, a tribe dating from the time of the Roman Empire.
However, the official references to the castle date back to many centuries later, registering its existence in the XNUMXth century. Is area was granted to the Durward family, so it is believed that they were the ones who built the castle. In this century there was a rebellion against Alexander II, ruler of Scotland, who put it down and gave this area to the control of his son Alejando III. Apparently, the oldest surviving parts of the castle belong to the lordship of Alexander III. After his death the castle passed into the hands of the Lord of Badenoch, but a conflict with the English crown caused it to become the control of the English. The castle was reclaimed for the Scottish crown and apparently it was reformed, but later it happened of hands of the crown to the MacDonald clan. The castle was suffering damage due to conflicts with the clan and later with the Jacobites. Today only the ruins that we see remain.
Visit the castle
Various types of transport can be used to get to the castle. Normally, flights arrive in Edinburgh, so this area is some distance away. If you dare, A great idea is to take a rental car. Although it must be said that it is driven on the left side and the roads are quite narrow, so it is only suitable for the brave. The car will give us the freedom to stop at various places of interest such as Aberdeen, Fort George or various castles. You can also stop at various points around the lake, to be able to take incredible photographs of the natural spaces.
Another way to get there is take an arranged tour in Edinburgh. They take us by bus to this area and we return normally in the day, although most of the time we spend it by bus. You can also take a bus to Inverness and there take accommodation for a day to see the lake area quietly. Buses and catamarans depart from Inverness to see the lake. The small town of Drumnadrochit is where Inverness buses often stop. From here there are buses or you can walk on a route of several kilometers close to the highway.
Touring Urquhart Castle
Upon arrival at the castle you have to go through the visitor center to seal the entrance. From here we can go through the cafeteria or the souvenir shop. We find ourselves when leaving in an area from which you can see the lake and the castle. As we get closer we can see the beauty of the area. It is surrounded by a large field and there is an area where boats sailing on the lake dock.
In the castle you can walk through all the areas, go down to a small area by the lake, see the ruins and read in each place what each construction was intended for. There are panels in which we can see some drawings with the reconstructions of each area, from the dovecote to the kitchens and the main tower. The views of the lake from this beautiful castle are unmatched, and we can certainly imagine those people living in this incredible place for centuries.
In the main tower you have to climb a spiral staircase to get to the top, where there is a terrace. From here you have great views to start looking for Nessie, the monster that legend says that is at the bottom of the lake.