Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle, located on a headland overlooking Loch Ness 13 miles southwest of Inverness, is home to ruins that date back to the 13th to the 16th centuries. It was built on an early medieval fortification site and was critical in the Wars of Scottish Independence during the 14th century. Throughout history, it was raided on several occasions by the MacDonald Earls of Ross and was subsequently granted to the Clan Grant in 1509. Despite additional raids, the castle was strengthened, only to be mostly abandoned by the middle of the 17th century. In the 20th century, it became a scheduled monument placed in state care and opened to the public. Today, Urquhart Castle is one of the largest castles in Scotland and one of the country’s most-visited historical sites.