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Dunvegan Castle

Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan Castle 131


Details:
Address: Isle of Skye
Postcode: IV55 8WF
Email: info@dunvegancastle.com


Explore a Highland Estate with woodlands, sea lochs, farms, rivers, gardens, mountains - The Black Cuillins and MacLeod’s Tables, sea eagles, otters, seals, red deer and a multitude of sea birds.

 

Any visit to this enchanted Isle must be deemed incomplete without savouring the wealth of history offered by Dunvegan Castle and Gardens.

 

Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years. Built on a rock, it has survived clan battles, the extremes of feast and famine and the profound social, political and economic changes through which the Western Highlands and Islands have passed.

 

Originally designed to keep people out, romantic and historic Dunvegan Castle was first opened to the public in 1933. Over the years, we have given a warm Highland welcome to visitors including Sir Walter Scott, Dr Johnson, Queen Elizabeth II and the Japanese Emperor Akihito and we now look forward to welcoming you.

These magnificent gardens remain  open all year round and will prove of considerable interest to many, following paths through woodland glades, past shimmering pools and burns fed by a cascading waterfall.

Stroll through the formal round garden, stand and admire the many Rhododendrons, numerous in their variety.

The Castle Gardens were originally laid out in the 18th century and considerable replanting and landscaping provides a legacy which current as well as future generations can enjoy and admire.

The Castle gardens lie inland and are backed by a considerable number of hectares (1 hectare = 2.471 acres) of mature woodland.

As the Isle of Skye is essentially made up of barren moorland and hill these woods and gardens are like reaching a hidden oasis. Many visitors are surprised at the sheer variety of species of plant and tree which not only survive but thrive at Dunvegan.

The secret is a brilliant, inspired and dedicated team of horticuturalists and garden staff as well as a little bit of help from nature as Dunvegan Castle is in the "Gulf Stream".

Plantsmen and women from all over the country, indeed the world visit the castle and are inspired by what they find.