Dunnottar Castle

Oh what a magical place to visit! Dunnottar Castle is well worth the drive through the Scottish countryside. Impressively perched on a high promontory it is breathtaking. It’s worth going early to avoid the crowds and getting to it is a bit tricky if you are afraid of heights like I am. The walk back from the castle was significantly less frightening as you walk back a different way than you enter. Do make sure to bring rain/wind gear as the weather can turn in a moment’s notice. It can get quite windy as you’re perched above the ocean, but if you wait about five minutes the weather is bound to change. There is a cute little canteen near the car park with surprisingly good food for relatively reasonable prices. I had one of the best vegetarian burgers there that I have had in a while. There is a discount for students, so make sure to bring your id or know your student email address. Also be on the look-out for the small details such as the stone clock on the wall or the lovely hand-laid patterned stones on the walkway on your way out. Do give it a visit; you won’t be disappointed!

What a fantastic castle and great place to. Explore. Would highly recommend the walk from Stonehaven as you get lovely views as you approach. There are quite a lot 0f steps down and then up into the castle, but these are well graded and have a good handrail. There are also a couple of benches.

Dunnottar Castle is absolutely mesmerizing! Perched on a dramatic cliff overlooking the North Sea, the views are spectacular. The ruins are rich with history and stories, making it a fascinating visit. Perfect for history buffs and photographers alike. Five stars! 🏰 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Fantastic and vast castle ruin site. The small car park gets really busy. There’s a coffee shop and picnics benches. Entrance fee is only payable once you get to the castle. It’s over 200 steps (down then back up quite steeply in parts) and the same route back. By peoples faces coming back you can see it’s a tough trek! There is a decent path down towards the cliff where you can view from a distance if you are unable or unwilling to do the steps. There are also two benches.

Beautiful ruins, very photogenic. Right outside Dundee. Absolutely worth the trip. You can walk the area for free, which is what I did. You can also pay an entry fee to enter into the castle and ruins, which I elected not to do. Be warned: there are a LOT of stairs leading from the parking area to the castle. Totally worth the hike, but if you're severely out of shape or have mobility issues, you need to know that right up front. Absolutely would recommend this. Beautiful.

Lovely place to visit with lots of beautiful, vibrant colours from plants and wildlife. Perfect for those who enjoy hiking. There is a small car park and catering business with bathroom facilities. However, the castle is about a 10-minute walk from the car park. There is also the small village town/village of Stonehaven nearby with entertainment for families with young children.

A scenic, well preserved Scottish castle, devoid of the tourist-trap vibe. This place is awesome in itself, and the detailed, well illustrated descriptions complemented by a handy map (kudos for material choice and the graphic design. It matches the rough beauty of this lovely place), make the free-roaming experience of visiting Dunnottar easier and worthwhile. This place is authentic, historically significant, and a wonder to behold. The dramatic Scottish weather combined with the choppy waters roaring below, enhance the whole experience.

A very beautiful and peaceful place on the east coast of Scotland. The castle views, the sound of the ocean and the fragrance of the breeze was totally amazing. Can spend hours just enjoying the views.

The path to the entrance of Dunnottar Castle has at least one railing on the part of the path nearing the land bridge to the castle. The castle is situated on a large chunk of land with shear cliffs down to the sea below. A parking lot is located at the trailhead and on approach/departure from the castle there are paths that branch to a beach area below the castle and a nearby War Memorial. Ticket prices were fair and I bough a book with information about each of the rooms on entry as well. Informational placards are spaced throughout the castle ruins to provide background about what one is looking at. Context is also provided on the placards in regards to what the rooms were used for and how that fit into larger social events outside of the castle. The views from the different rooms and buildings are beautiful. While the castle was busy on my visit in July 2019, visitors and workers were both courteous and non-intrusive. A restroom was also available for use not too far from the cistern.

If you're in Aberdeen, please please please go see this beauty. Castle ruins, meticulously preserved and sitting atop a clip overlooking the sea. If you're lucky, a piper will be filling the atmosphere with the beautiful sounds that only a bagpipe can replicate. Please note, there are many, many, many steps to descend to even get to the castle. Returning is even more difficult as you'll have to ascend those same steps. Those with accessibility needs, please look into it prior to your trip.

Dunnottar Castle is a nice trip, it's a castle ruins but for £4 you can't really complain about the lack of nicely decorated rooms or a roof :) We had a really good time enjoying the views and just exploring the different spaces. There's some stunning views of the coast. Beware of the stairs leading to the castle as it can get quite slippery in winter and they're already quite the workout!

This is the kind of castle ruin that transports you back hundreds of years to a time of kilts and glory. Plan at least 3 hours to do the walk and exploration. There is a bathroom inside the castle if you had too much coffee before your trip. I will never get tired of exploring in Dunnottar castle.

We've been travelling around England, Scotland and Ireland for a few weeks. We've seen and visited many Castles. And this was definitely among the very very best. It's a very quick walk from the small parking lot. You could park in town and take a longer walk too. Since our dog isn't the fastest, we took our chance and looked for a parking lot here and got lucky. The view of the Castle is just breathtaking. It sits there surrounded by water, accessable by a small trail. You get gret views from the left or the right bay / cliff. We did prefer taking pics from the right side, close to the cliffs. Makes some really good photos. You could go inside too....it's even dog-friendly. But the best views you get for free even. After many pics and taking in the great views we walked along the trail (leading to Stonehaven) for quite a while. A really lovely walk and not busy. Most visitors just show up for 15-20 minutes and leave again. Be sure to plan enough time to really enjoy the castle, the views and its surroundings. As usual: Pics don't do it justice. If you ever have the chance to visit this place, be sure not to miss it.

Goodness gracious, there sure are a lot of castles in Scotland! How do you know which ones to visit? You only have a limited amount of time on your vacation, so how do you decide? Fortunately, after doing a lot of homework, we suspected that this one would be worth a visit. It was beyond spectacular. The location, overlooking the water, is a major factor. Just getting there is part of the adventure. It's a bit of a hike from town. Once you arrive, it's another hike from the entrance to the castle itself. You will be able to take some of the best photographs of your entire trip. But take a moment to look around before going crazy with your iPhone camera. Be in the moment and absorb the awesomeness of the scenery and the beautiful view. We visited so many castles on our trip; after a while, it was hard to remember which was which. But this one was absolutely unforgettable. A must for every tourist.

The ruins of this castle are in a beautiful setting on the coast. It's worth a visit. It's fairly remote and you need to walk about a 1/4 mile to the ruins and then there are many steps going down and then up. Keep in mind that these are ruins. You will be exposed to all of the elements.

By far one of the coolest places I've been to in my life, and I've been to a few. Amazingly scenic and remote, it was well worth the cost of admission. We were here on a cold and wet day and felt like we really got a sense for how isolated it must have been when inhabited. Even in March, it was amazingly green. The misty day gave all of our photos an almost hazy sense that was very atmospheric. I wish we'd had more time to spend because we could have wiled away another couple hours. Alas, the cold drove us in search of some hot food and beverages.

Breathtaking, unreal, and exceptional are some of the adjectives I would use to describe this castle that every tourist should visit when they come to Scotland. They say a picture is worth a million words, which is why I attached the photographs. Set on a cliff, this rather large castle ruin has some exceptional views. The castle ruins consists of barracks, chapel, stables, storehouses, and lodgings. The history of this castle is impressive. When you walk here, you are walking on the same castle grounds that William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose and King Charles II have walked before you. As expected at most ruined castles, make sure to wear hiking boots are similar footwear as you will be doing a lot of hiking both to get to and within the castle.

Dunnottar Castle is deserving of all the glowing reviews and praise heaped upon it. The castle is a spectacularly beautiful ruin on a lush cliff side location. For a small fee of £6/adult & £2/child you can explore the decaying structures, letting your imagination run wild trying to picture what it looked like in its prime. The buildings are labeled (chapel, stables, etc.) and there are a few plaques providing a bit of information, but if you really want to begin to get a grasp of the hundreds of years of history the castle has lived through you should either read up on it before you go or buy the guidebook. As others have pointed out, this castle requires a lot of walking up and down stairs and on rough, bumpy surfaces, so good walking shoes are highly recommended. I saw a man with a walking stick but he was clearly struggling as were some women wearing ballet flats or high-heeled boots. There is a bench located at the halfway point of the stairs leading to the castle for good reason. Writing of benches and other practical things, there are a few benches located on castle grounds as well as bathrooms, but no gift shop or other amenities. In summer there is a van in the car park selling food and drinks;however, since it wasn't there when I visited I can't comment on the quality or pricing. The car park had plenty of spaces, though I would bet that at the height of tourist season they get taken quickly. Many people hiked from Stonehaven past the War Memorial, which probably provided them with some stunning views. You can even bring your dog if it is kept on a lead. The beach areas right next to the castle are great for picnicking and exploring, but it was disappointing to see so much rubbish scattered around. Please take your trash with you, people! As always in Scotland, the weather changes quickly so be prepared. Luckily, the weather was mostly mild and pleasant when I visited, but there were a few windy/chilly moments when I was happy to have brought a coat. This is a great family outing and even though the fascinating history of Dunnottar will be lost on younger children, they will still have fun exploring. This castle is worth making the time for. I feel privileged to have visited it and would happily go again.

On a brisk , but sunny spring day I decided to drive up to Stonehaven and visit Dunnottar Castle. I saw pictures of this amazing ruin for some time now and always wanted to visit. I think Dunnottar is only half an hour away from Aberdeen and yes its most accessible by car, as the ruin is build on a rock outside of Stonehaven, a small fisherman village on the East Coast of Scotland. It was nearly 4 o'clock when I had arrived and luckily was still able to explore the site before closure (at 5pm). It is an Historic Scotland property and a little shed near the Portcullis holds space for one person to collect the entrance money. To get to the entrance was an adventure, as I had to walk down and up steps and if you are not the fittest, the climb can leave you out of breath,especially when returning to the car park :-). Its not for the faint hearted nor for wheelchair users, I can imagine. Anyway, I finally made it to the entrance and thought on how the horses had ever been able to enter this site. I can only imagine that the actual entrance was somewhere else. This aside, the portcullis area is really amazingly old and if walls and stones could talk........ Inside it is quite hilly too :-). And yes, its a ruin. The tower house (build in the 14th century) can still be climbed and its remaining rooms explored. So can the stables, barracks, outhouses, cellars, dungeon and church remains, but foremost the views towards and cliffs and the ocean is just breath taking. I think I stood there for ages just admiring the view, until I got very cold (best you carry a warm jacket with you). Historically speaking you might be interested that this place is linked to famous names like Robert the Bruce,Oliver Cromwell, Mary Queen of Scots, St Ninian and played its part in the Jacobite Risings and stood ground against Oliver Cromwell's troops. It also was the seat of the Earl Marischal, always loyal to country and crown. The HONOURS OF SCOTLAND were kept there successfully defended and protected against Cromwell's army. Secretly and cunningly, the royal regalia were smuggled out of Dunnottar and hidden from sight for a few hundred years. What can I say, its definitely worth exploring all around the year! But best to check winter opening times as I can imagine its not the easiest to access when snow has fallen or a storm is raging.

I love dunnottar castle! so much so that i am getting married there in 17 months. It offers fantastic scenery and an excellent family day out. It is situated not far from stonehaven and is close to the a90 and the a92 roads. Access to the castle is by some steep steps and is not suitable for wheel chairs or large prams, buggys should be ok. The castle is a ruin and is very dramatic, it is surrounded on 3 sides by sea, and is very peacefull. There are both mail and female toilets. The crown jewels were kept at the castle in the past. The castle opens all year round (friday to monday only during the winter, weather permitting) Entry to the castle is £5 for an adult or £7 for a season ticket. guide books are also available which provide interesting reading.

To make one thing clear, please remember that this is an old historic castle... and therefore not accessible for the handicapped. Also, if you plan on walking, then it is a long walk to get there with a lot of ups and downs. However, the view is absolutely stunning. ___ One of the reasons I traveled to Scotland is to see the rich history of the country. It has always been something that I found fascinating, as you will surely not find anything similar in a county as young as mine. I made a pit stop from Glasgow to Aberdeen at Stonehaven particularly to go to Dunnottar Castle. Little did I know that I would find it so breathtaking. For someone who enjoys seeing what is left of medieval times, I walked around the castle twice to take everything in and because I didn't want to leave. Everything there is picturesque... so much that I couldn't figure out what to take a picture of (so I took a picture of everything). Granted, it is a castle, so there's not much there... it's just ruins. There's a lot of walking around the ground, and the steps are If I am ever in Scotland again, which I hope to be, I will surely return.

Dunnottar castle really is beautiful, perched on the edge of the sea. I grew up nearby, and sometimes when that is the case you miss out on 'touristy' places like this, but it is super worth seeking out, if you are local or visiting from far away. even in the rain, it's majestic (it is scotland after all!) my boyfriend is english, so when we go home to visit my parents, my mum tries to find something suitably scottish for us to do - this was it on our most recent visit home. the castle itself is beautiful, historic and monumental. it offers beautiful views and lovely rock pools down in the cove. there is a zillion seagulls, and you should expect there to be repercussions from this! (the dude in the ticket office kindly helped me out with some tissues and tried his hardest not to laugh at my distress) it's probably not for the physically challenged as there are steeps steps going down to the castle and then you have to climb back up them again, but if you are capable then it is definitely worth the £5 entry fee for sure! on a sunny day you should take a picnic and find a spot to sit and enjoy it!

One of the most impressive locations for a castle that I've ever seen. It's a pretty strenuous walk to the actual castle, so if you not up to it you might consider just taking your photos from the mainland side. The only negative we encountered was the rude French girl selling admission tickets. Apparently, we really upset her day when she had to put her phone down and do her job.

This place was breathtaking and it helped that it is easy to get to from the major roads. As we walked towards the castle beyond the mist and fog, I was overcome with emotions because the castle was raw in its beauty and wildly defiant against the buffeting gale force winds. How could they have lived here in this cold and draft albeit stunningly picturesque castle. I could only imagine pure stubbornness and pride were major factors. At the top of the castle you could see the deep drop into the cliffs and raging seaside waters, churning with wild abandon against the side of the castle. I wish I had more time to stay here and just listen to the waves crashing against the castle. Being at this place, I cannot imagine being upset by anything and just totally embraced by its preternatural beauty. I wish I had a better camera to capture it but it is memory of the feeling, smell and sight of this castle that I will keep close to me forever.

Perfect castle. Horrible history, serious scenery (with a cave), it's ruined and it's got a beach next to it. Also, you don't need to walk very far from the car park, although there's a bit of a climb.