The Dunrobin Castle in Scotland is one of those fairy-tale looking places surrounded by a beautiful garden.
Located North of Inverness, the largest house of the highlands is worth the detour.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit.
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Why visit the Dunrobin Castle in Scotland?
Dunrobin is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful castles to see in Scotland (my list here).
With turrets that give it a fairy-tale look and gardens below, its visit offers magnificent perspectives.
Dunrobin Castle Scotland is the largest house in the highlands with 189 rooms. It dates in part from the early 14th century (check this site it you want more info about its history).
The gardens were laid out in 1850 and inspired by those of Versailles. They have not changed much since then.
Dunrobin Castle in Scotland
Below is a short video with different views of the Dunrobin castle from the entrance and from the garden.
More photos after the planning tips.
PLANNING TIPS & Map - Dunrobin Castle Scotland
How to get to Dunrobin Castle location - Map
- Dunrobin Castle from Inverness - 50 miles to the North (1h15 min drive along A9)
- 4h30 drive from Edinburgh
- Just North of the village of Golspie
- There is a train station that welcomes trains from April to mid-October
- Below is a map to get your oriented and locate the castle
Map - Dunrobin castle location
It is included in my travel guide eBook that helps you plan your Scotland road trip:
Plan your dream trip around Scotland!
- 15 easy-to-plan maps
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Visiting Dunrobin Castle
- Open from end of March to mid-October (check dates every year on their website)
- Dunrobin opening hours - Apr, May, Sept, Oct 10:30am to 4:30 pm (Sun noon to 4:30pm) / June, July, August - 10am to 5pm
- Last entry 30min before closure
- Price - £11
- Gift shop and toilets
- Lots of stairs both inside and to get down to the garden
- Falconry displays during the day except on Sundays (normally at 11:30am and 2pm)
- Plan 2 hours
- Check out the best rated accommodations in the area
Where to stay in Scotland?
My tips:
- Edinburgh to explore the fascinating city - see best rated accommodations
- Portree central to explore the isle of Skye - see best rated accommodations
- Glencoe to take the time in the magnificent valley - see best rated accommodations
- Ullapool for the West coast on the North 500 - see best rated accommodations
- Thurso for the North coast and ferry to the Orkneys - see best rated accommodations
- Kirkwall to explore the Orkneys - see best rated accommodations
- Inverness for the famous Speyside whiskies - see best rated accommodations
Find more inspiration in my article about where to stay in Scotland
Arriving at the Castle
You cannot guess from the road coming from the North that such a beautiful castle is right next to you. A park full of trees surrounds the house and you can see it only when arriving on the carpark.
Need to rent a car in Scotland?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Choose the car and company you prefer (prefer a compact car for the single-lane roads)
- Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Entrance
As you arrive on the carpark of Dunrobin Castle you are already excited about what there is to come. This side has a beautiful clock tower and what looks like a donjon where a princess could put her hair out.
Dunrobin Castle Interior
The visit starts with the interior of Dunrobin Castle. You get to have a look at the dining room, music room, and the beautiful library with wood panels.
You can then climb upstairs to see the nursery, bedrooms, dress... and many items showing how life used to be in the castle.
Please note that the visit is a little bit of a labyrinth with many stairs.
Dunrobin Castle Gardens
The main interest of Dunrobin is the garden and the view of the castle from it. From inside the castle, I was able to get a glimpse of it with the sea behind. So I rushed to get out and discover the view.
Many comments on the Internet state that the gardens are not what they used to be. I have no point of comparison. All I can say was that it was enjoyable to walk around.
Dunrobin Falconry show
I arrived late in the afternoon, so I did not see the falconry display. Comments on the Internet are generally good. The show is included in the entry. You can see pictures of the show on Debi Bradford wesbite.
There is also a museum on the ground. It was closed when I visited. From what I read, don't go inside if you are an animal lover as it is filled with dead stuffed animals (shot by the family on safari).
Views of the castle from the Dunrobin Gardens
And here comes the best. As you go down into the gardens you see more and more of the castle and its conic towers, looking like it is out of a fairy-tale.
It looks really great being erected above the gardens. You can see it from everywhere.
Want to see more fascinating Castles in Scotland? Here are a few:
- The impressive Edinburgh Castle Fortress - read article
- The Inveraray cCastle with green walls and beautiful gardens - read article
- The Famous Eilean Donan Castle with its mountain backdrop - read article
- The ruins of Sinclair Girnigoe Castle balancing on the cliffs - read article
- The unique triangular castle of Caerlaverock - read article
- Or check out my list of the 16 best castles in Scotland
Planning a trip to Scotland? Check out my travel guide to help you plan it:
Plan your dream trip around Scotland!
- 15 easy-to-plan maps
- 170+ pre-selected scenic locations
- Planning tips to make the most of your time
- 170+ large photos to decide where to go
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
And keep track of your own trip!
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