Doune Castle
Doune Castle
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Explore this 14th century courtyard castle in Doune, with a striking 100 ft high gatehouse and one of the best preserved great halls in Scotland. The formidable Doune Castle was built for the Regent Albany. The striking keep-gatehouse combines domestic quarters including the splendid Lord's Hall with its carved oak screen, musicians' gallery and double fireplace. This was used as a film location for the BBC production of Ivanhoe and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. As well as being heavily featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Doune Castle was also used for the castle known as Winterfell in the pilot of the award winning TV series Game of Thrones as well as Castle Leoch in Outlander.
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- negativecamberBroadway, United Kingdom351 contributionsAtmosphericWhat an interesting place to visit, we originally decided to go as my wife is an Outlander fan & myself love Monty Python. We had an audio guide which gave us plenty of info of the history of Doune, it was well maintained & there was also plenty of work going on, & we both thought it very atmospheric. Afterwards we took a stroll along the River Teith behind the castle very pleasant too.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 October 2023
- victoria BLincolnshire, United Kingdom587 contributionsExcellent medieval castle with some seriously good Monty Python references.Well presented Medieval Castle which is worth a visit for this alone. Very helpful staff who seemed to know every nook and cranny of the place. Monty Python fans like myself found it particularly good. An audio guide narrated by one of the Python team with reference to famous sketches in the relevant rooms used in the Holy Grail. Outlander references here too as the castle also had a starring role in this TV series There is an adjacent car park and toilets and a shop. No cafe, but the nearby village of Doune had some excellent eateries.Visited September 2023Travelled soloWritten 23 October 2023
- Jodie CLondon, United Kingdom71 contributionsWell worth a visit!This was a last minute addition to our driving tour of Scotland. So glad we chose to add this to our itinerary! I had no idea that this was the castle that was used in season 1 of Outlander; or that they filmed Monty Python here. I loved the addition audio guide tour of the Outlander series narrated by Sam Heughan. Especially glad to be an English Heritage member (which meant that this was free for us). I recommend taking advantage of the free car park and taking the circular walk.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 24 October 2023
- Mr.S Travel QuestSan Angelo, Texas204 contributionsGame of Thrones Vibes: Doune Castle AdventureDoune Castle gained widespread recognition as the primary filming location for the classic comedy film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" in 1975. The castle served as the backdrop for various iconic scenes, including the French castle and Camelot. Doune Castle served as one of the filming locations for Winterfell, the ancestral home of House Stark. The castle's exterior was used to depict Winterfell in the unaired pilot episode of Game of Thrones. One of the highlights of Doune Castle is its well-preserved Great Hall. The hall, with its impressive hammerbeam roof and large fireplace, provides a glimpse into medieval banquets and gatherings.We all explored different parts of the castles since we were limited on time doing a guide van tour across Scotland. You can check out the full video of this tour on Mr.S Travel Quest YouTube channel. -Mr.S Travel QuestVisited July 2023Travelled with familyWritten 25 November 2023
- Lizzy BAtlanta, Georgia7 contributionsnice for an hour-long walkaboutFun stop for a place that has been featured in countless shows and films! We did enjoy walking around to see the interior, as it is an unvarnished look as to how castles were lived in at the time, and you can liberally sit in and touch parts of the castle. Not sure I would travel the hour+ from Edinburgh just to see this castle, but certainly would stop in en route elsewhere.Visited November 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 29 November 2023
- Jane SOmagh, United Kingdom587 contributionsDoune Castle Solo VisitI’ve wanted to visit since Outlander, was closed 2 years ago for renovation/safety. They are still carrying out work. Was not busy which for me was great. Smaller than what I expected but still a castle nonetheless. What made it extra special for me was listening to Sam aka Jamie Fraser on audio explaining were the filming etc took place , definitely worth visiting.Visited December 2023Travelled soloWritten 20 December 2023
- LJEMaryland90 contributionsIntriguing history and superb staff, locationSo sorry for getting around to a review almost a year after our visit. Beyond interesting site, both historically and in relation to film locations. Being a Monty Python fan, I was especially delighted with that portion of the audio tour. The staff were kind and helpful, tolerant and amused at my snorting and doubling over with laughter during the Holy Grail commentary. Truly a wonderful site. Be sure to walk down to the river, as well.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 January 2024
- 1776SJA23 contributionsDoune Castle is Definitely Worth VisitingI've visited Doune Castle twice within the past six years and will certainly go back the next time I'm in Scotland. I like Doune because it helps you visualize what living in castle was like for a nobleman and his family. The audio guide, narrated by the late Terry Jones of Monty Python, does an outstanding job explaining the different rooms and how life was like in the castle. Jones and Sam Heughan, of Outlander, do great jobs on the audio guide informing you of the movies and shows that were filmed in and at Doune Castle as well. The interior is well preserved, minus the tapestries, etc., that would have made the castle a nice place to live. After visiting the castle, stroll along the river behind it. It's just a nice stroll. Another thing I like about Doune Castle is that's near other sites. Located within 15 minutes from Stirling Castle, which means you can easily see both castles on the same day. We visited Stirling, Doune, and Glasgow in the same day and had plenty of time in all three locations (only toured the outdoor sites of Glasgow and had dinner). While parking is tight, you don't have to wait long for a space to open up if there isn't one already available. I'd rather have tight parking than a huge parking lot that detracts from the charm and Aesthetics of the site.Visited July 2023Travelled with familyWritten 27 January 2024
- ChastidyiSeymour, Tennessee812 contributionsSo cool!! Definitely a must see!We chose this castle to visit because it was on our way to Glencoe. I didn’t realize at the time that it was used for Outlander or Monty Python, but I was so happy to find that out!! We stopped by with no tickets, but the people there were happy to help us with that. Everyone working there was so very nice. It wasn’t busy so we mostly got to explore by ourselves. They have audio guides that you can use to learn about the castle as you go. A few are voiced by Sam Heugan and the rest are by one of the guys from Monty Python. It was very interesting to learn about, and the castle was so neat!! We ended up spending waaaaay too much in the gift shop, lol, but I’m excited to take back all of the mementos.Visited February 2024Travelled on businessWritten 2 March 2024
- CaptainAmoAberdeen, United Kingdom29 contributionsSuper castle visit for the whole familyBrilliant castle with the best audio tour I’ve ever heard (free, and voiced by Terry Jones and Sam Heughan). Really educational and engaging for all ages (we were two adults and kids 9&11 and all enjoyed our tour). The castle is a really great mixture of ruin, preserved and restored areas and, although quite small, well worth seeing. The ‘Outlander’ and ‘Monty Python’ elements were nicely included without overwhelming the history. Must also mention the castle staff, who were all incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and engaging - even those standing out in the car park in the rain. The village of Doune is absolutely beautiful - very glad we braved the downpour to walk into town to a lovely cafe (Buttercup Cafe - great coffee and cake) via the picturesque Old Mill bridge.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 10 April 2024
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4.5
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P_n_R_Herts
Herts120 contributions
Sept 2020
The young staff here were fabulously cheerful and friendly. The castle has the important features children will expect! Having not seen either Outlander or Game of Thrones, the fans who were there to pose in a famous location were a bit wearing, but it’s great that these productions have allowed the building to be maintained. Its history is surprisingly important for what appears to be a small castle.
Written 26 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aint_Life_Great
Huntsville, AL605 contributions
Apr 2022
aka Castle Leoch in Outlander, and also used for filming Game of Thrones and Monty Python. The castle was closed for renovation when we were there in April, but we were still able to see the outside and get some good photos. The admission is covered under the Explorer Pass (highly recommend if you're visiting several sites), but they weren't charging admission when we were there since they were closed. I only wish it had been open so I could have wandered around.
Written 22 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sharron
Newark-on-Trent, UK34 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
As we were staying in the village we thought a visit to the castle was in order. We are currently touring Scotland and have been to some wonderful attractions with costumed performers, friendly greeters and so much to do. Sadly Duone Castle wasn’t one of them.
First of all we were turned away from the car park after being told our vehicle was too big to park there - perhaps the website should make it clear there isn’t enough room ‘for a van’.
The audio tours were free which was a plus but the sound from them was a little distorted.
The castle itself is quite basic and didn’t take long to get around, we were there for less than 30 minutes, so I agree with some of the other comments that the entry is quite high for how little you get.
The shop staff seemed very friendly which is more than can be said for the greeters.
First of all we were turned away from the car park after being told our vehicle was too big to park there - perhaps the website should make it clear there isn’t enough room ‘for a van’.
The audio tours were free which was a plus but the sound from them was a little distorted.
The castle itself is quite basic and didn’t take long to get around, we were there for less than 30 minutes, so I agree with some of the other comments that the entry is quite high for how little you get.
The shop staff seemed very friendly which is more than can be said for the greeters.
Written 24 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for submitting your review. We value your feedback and are disappointed that your visit was not quite up to your expectations.
Our website specifies that unfortunately, we cannot accommodate motorhomes or campervans in the car park (small campervans can be accommodated if they fit in a normal car parking space). Due to limited parking at the site, we can't accommodate larger vehicles. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
We take value for money very seriously. The admission costs for the Castle are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money - our admission cost not only contributes to maintaining this beautifully historic location but also contributes to preserving our 340+ sites across Scotland. We do offer excellent value membership or explorer passes for those wanting to explore a variety of locations. We believe there is quite a lot to see at the castle, such as the cathedral-like Great Hall, the kitchens, and unique views from the battlements over the River Teith and Ben Lomond.
Thanks again for leaving your valuable feedback.
Written 26 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
debbyjo2015
Ottawa, Canada9 contributions
Aug 2020
This was my first visit post Covid 19 and not sure what toe expect. The process to buy your tickets is very easy. We were assigned a time and entrance was limited to a very manageable number. Staff were extremely helpful and cheery. The one way system work wonderfully, even taking me up a staircase I had not previously been. My friend , a first time visitor was very impressed. Kudo's to staff for being able to make this a memorable day in spite the challenges. even our toilet experience was good. Will be back.
Written 30 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cristina
Bucharest, Romania15 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
One of my favourite castles I visited during my visit in Scotland. Although the castle is rather small, i enjoyed it.The staircases are steep and narrow, and the cold, dark rooms make it easier to imagine how life was back in time. It is also a filming location for Outlander (castle Leoch), and the audioguide (included in the entrance fee) was very nice (Sam Heughan recorded some parts of it). I liked the giftshop as well, very nice and welcoming staff. Overall, worth a visit!
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cavegirl1980
Westhoughton, UK187 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Not a bad place to stop off at and visit if you are a GoT or Python fan. Some interesting history and an audio guide is available but we didn't bother as my daughter was more interested in just exploring - perhaps better for adults but it's a bit tricky to listen to an audio whilst supervising small kids. More displays and information would be useful otherwise you are mostly wandering around a castle ruin (albeit mostly indoors) and figuring it out for yourself.
We got in for free as English Heritage members. It took us half an hour to get around.
Warning - parking is terrible. We were told that they couldn't accommodate our vehicle (small motorhome), even though there was a spot we could clearly get into. We parked outside the Spar in the village instead.
If you are in the area then it's worth an hour or so of your time.
We got in for free as English Heritage members. It took us half an hour to get around.
Warning - parking is terrible. We were told that they couldn't accommodate our vehicle (small motorhome), even though there was a spot we could clearly get into. We parked outside the Spar in the village instead.
If you are in the area then it's worth an hour or so of your time.
Written 28 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for submitting your review. We value your feedback and are disappointed that your visit was not quite up to your expectations.
Our website specifies that unfortunately, we cannot accommodate motorhomes or campervans in the car park (small campervans can be accommodated if they fit in a normal car parking space). Due to limited parking at the site, we can't accommodate larger vehicles. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Thanks again for leaving your valuable feedback.
Written 1 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie
Eyam, UK52 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
Arrived by car and were directed to the parking area. Good friendly welcome.
On entering the castle we were met by a guide who was also cheerful, in fact everyone we met here working was pleasant and enthusiastic to answer our questions. We asked about the scaffolding rather than just walk past it. A very good explanation was given by the young lady in the 'tunnel' .most interesting
The castle itself is very good (love an audio guide) and both narrations were fun . We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and walked into the village afterwards to have lunch at a cafe recommend by one of the staff
Thank you all.
On entering the castle we were met by a guide who was also cheerful, in fact everyone we met here working was pleasant and enthusiastic to answer our questions. We asked about the scaffolding rather than just walk past it. A very good explanation was given by the young lady in the 'tunnel' .most interesting
The castle itself is very good (love an audio guide) and both narrations were fun . We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and walked into the village afterwards to have lunch at a cafe recommend by one of the staff
Thank you all.
Written 17 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don Wright
Vancouver, Canada1,460 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
While some castles in the UK can claim to be the location for many movies and television series, including Game of Thrones, Outlander, and Harry Potter, this is the first to proudly announce that it was featured in Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail. Even the audio guide discusses which scenes were filmed in which rooms. Cool, now I have to watch the film again for the first time in 20 years or so and see if I recognize the castle! As UK castles go, this is one of the smaller ones, although the walls are very high (and being repaired on two sides), and the main tower quite complete. It is quite formidable, on high ground at the junction of two rivers. The forest is quite dense on two sides, but I imagine this would have been clear of trees at the time for the best view of possible attackers.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nichola Siggers
Nottingham, UK197 contributions
Jun 2022
Quaint castle in a beautiful village. The scaffolding was still still up in sections but you can still take lovely photos if you get creative when framing the picture. The audio guide is narrated by Sam Heughan and provides a very interesting insight into the history of the castle and the production of the TV series. There are no refreshment facilities but it is just a short and pleasant walk into Doune.
Written 29 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ldjs
Fort Lee, NJ868 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
This is a great castle to visit on a tour of Scottish countryside. Lovely location, and the castle is in relatively good state of preservation.
Definitely take an audio guide, very helpful and plan to spend about an hour.
It is rather grand castle, more of a residence of the Duke of Albany, rather than just a defensive structure, and it gives a vivid picture of the life in the medieval time.
You can visit grand hall and kitchen and private quarters and even the jail( hole in the ground). Prepare to climb some steep stairs.
The staff on premises are very well informed and eager to share stories of the castle.
There are a lot of unusual details to note like double fireplace in the Victorian room and no fireplace in grand hall, some type of innovative hearth heating.
Very interesting visit overall.
Definitely take an audio guide, very helpful and plan to spend about an hour.
It is rather grand castle, more of a residence of the Duke of Albany, rather than just a defensive structure, and it gives a vivid picture of the life in the medieval time.
You can visit grand hall and kitchen and private quarters and even the jail( hole in the ground). Prepare to climb some steep stairs.
The staff on premises are very well informed and eager to share stories of the castle.
There are a lot of unusual details to note like double fireplace in the Victorian room and no fireplace in grand hall, some type of innovative hearth heating.
Very interesting visit overall.
Written 8 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We want to go out and back to Doune Castle from Edinburgh without a full-day tour. Not renting a car. How challenging is the train/bus? Any tours that would just do that in 1/2 day? Thank you.
Written 22 May 2023
We just visited as a part of countryside tour.
Try tours by locals, their private guides are usually pretty flexible and may be willing to do a half day tour. They tend to be pricey, but worth it if a few people in a group.
Written 22 May 2023
Come mai il castello è chiuso? Vorrei visitarlo a luglio 2022.
Written 15 May 2022
Can you see the castle from the outside/from afar, while it’s closed?
Written 13 August 2021
Can you see the castle from the outside/from afar, while it’s closed?
Written 13 August 2021
Do you have to book just to take photos of the outside & grounds. Also if we wanted to go inside would we be able to buy tickets for the same day. I’m asking because of the restrictions that are now in place because of Covid
Thank you
Written 21 May 2021
Rebecka T
Joao Pessoa, PB
Olá, o ingresso para o doune castle pode ser adquirido no proprio castelo?
Written 24 September 2019
Olá, sim pode, se estiveres a pensar visitar mais castelos na Escócia, aconselho a perguntar no local se podes comprar lá o passe "explorador" custa 35£ para 5 dias ou 45£ para 10 dias e dá para entrar em muitos castelos da Escócia, incluindo o de Edimburgo,stirling e muitos mais! Boa viagem! Se precisares de mais dicas diz, eu percorri grande parte de Escócia e os seus belos Castelos.
Written 24 September 2019
Are the opening hours relevant if you want to see the castle (only) from the outside?
Written 20 July 2019
Para tener una información completa, podés chequear la siguiente página.
historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/doune-castle/
Dice de 9.30 hs. a 17.30 hs., siendo la última entrada a las 17 hs.
Saludos.
Written 9 March 2019
We have time to visit either Doune Castle or Stirling Castle. Which would you suggest? We are seeing Edinburgh Castle as well, earlier in the trip.
Written 30 January 2019
Stirling castle is the significantly bigger attraction with more to see but there’s no reason you can’t do both. Doune castle is also great & only about 30 minutes drive away.
They are very different experiences so well worth exploring.
If I had to pick one then Stirling would be the one (get your tickets from the White House shop next to the parking booth to skip queues that build up in busy times at the castle entrance.
If you’re making the journey you can happily do both & As mentioned before Deanston Distillery is just there too & they have a great tour.
Also inbetween is Smiddy’s Farm Shop which is a decent place for a bite to eat. (A bit pricey but it’s a nice place)
Written 30 January 2019
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