Visit this imposing castle that many consider an icon of Scotland.
Located in the Stirling district, the 14th-century Doune Castle remains an imposing and iconic structure in today’s Scotland.
Occupied by many famous historical figures over the years, including Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie, the castle was left to deteriorate in the 18th century, becoming a roofless ruin by 1800. An earl took it upon himself to begin repairs in the 1880s, replacing the timber roofs and restoring the interior to its former glory. The castle is now maintained by Historic Environment Scotland and listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the highest levels of protection for significant heritage sites in Scotland.
Doune Castle was a strategic stronghold in its heyday, but today, it’s most famous as a film location in a number of popular productions. Viewers of the popular TV series Outlander may recognise it as the fictional Castle Leoch, while Game of Thrones fans might identify it as the set of Winterfell. In the classic movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the castle and its various rooms were featured in a number of scenes, standing in as Camelot, Castle Anthrax and other fictional fortresses.
Visitors can enjoy a stroll on the nature trail in the castle grounds for free, or take a self-guided audio tour of the castle narrated by Monty Python’s Terry Jones, recounting the stories of the medieval residents as well as the making of the film. The audio tour also covers Outlander filming highlights. The castle is open to visitors year-round.
View Stirling & Trossachs National Park
