Is It Worth Going Inside Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland?

You can see Eilean Donan Castle from the parking lot. Many don’t even bother paying an entrance fee and will just take their photos of the castle from outside.

But is it worth the time, money, and energy to go inside Eilean Donan Castle?

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About Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan is one of the most photographed castles in the world. It’s beautiful. This is something many people want to visit in Scotland, myself included.

A castle or fortification of some sort has been in this location, on this little island, since the 13th century; but the castle as it stands now was reconstructed and completed in 1932. Some say that its design was based on a dream.

Lieutenant-Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap purchased the island in 1911 and built the castle over the course of 20 years. His descendants now take care of the castle, but they do not live in it.

Should you visit?

I really enjoyed walking around Eilean Donan Castle and learning of its history. It was an incredible outing I’ll never forget.

View of Eilean Donan Castle and bridge in Scotland — Eilean Donan Castle

Quick Facts about Visiting Eilean Donan Castle

Location: Dornie, by Kyle of Lochalsh, IV40 8DX, Scotland (close to the Isle of Skye)
Months Open: Feb 1 – Dec 23, can sometimes be closed for weddings
Hours: Varies throughout the year, between 9-10 a.m. to 4-6 p.m.
Cost: £12 for adults, audio guide is an extra £3
How to Get Tickets: Purchase on site, on the day of visit. No online advanced tickets available.
(Check official website for more info)

Reasons Why You Should Go Inside Eilean Donan Castle

It’s a castle on an island. How unique is that? I think it’s so interesting that they built a castle here on this little island that sits on three sea lochs — Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh. Cross the bridge over to explore this stunning castle that is known as the most recognizable castle in Scotland.

You can explore almost every room inside the castle. Most of the castle is open for touring, so you can see a LOT. Inside Eilean Donan Castle, you’ll find the Banquetting Hall, drawing room, recreated kitchen, scullery, pantry, servants hall, bedrooms, parlour, lavatories, inner courtyard, main keep, and more. The Banquetting Hall is worth the cost of admission alone, it’s absolutely breathtaking.

You can get an audio guide and learn a lot about the history of the region. While the castle was built recently in 1932, the history of this island and this region goes back much further, to the 6th century even. The current castle is a re-creation of a castle that stood on the island for centuries. Grab an audio guide for an extra £3 and learn more.

It’s a small castle, so it doesn’t take long to explore. There is no garden, and the island and castle are relatively small, so you can tour it all in less than an hour. (Although, I’d suggest about 2 hours so you are not rushed.) It doesn’t take up much time, but you’ll be so glad you went inside.

See why this castle was used in so many films. The castle has been featured in films such as James Bond, Highlander, and Made of Honor. (However, Eilean Donan Castle was not in Outlander.) See what all the hype is about for yourself by getting up close and personal with Eilean Donan.

Author and author's mom on the bridge leading up to Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland

Author's mom near a castle wall at Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland — Eilean Donan Castle

Reasons Why You Should Not Go Inside Eilean Donan Castle

You can’t take photos inside the castle. It’s a bit of a bummer that they ask you not to take photos inside the castle. You can, however, take as many photos as you want outside of the castle. I do think that there are some great angles on the bridge and around the island, which you can only get to by paying the admission price. Even though you can’t take photos, you’ll get to see inside the castle with your very own eyes, so try to soak it all in, to remember.

The castle is not as historic as you’d expect. It looks old. But in reality Eilean Donan Castle is barely a century. It was built in 1932. I mean, I’ve stayed in houses older than that. But there is a longer history on the land, in the region, that is just as interesting.

You’d rather spend your time in the gift shop. You’re able to visit the visitor center without paying for a ticket, and it’s here where there is a gift shop and restaurant. Have some lunch while sitting near a window with incredible views of the castle. (Plus, the food is quite good!) However, if you have the time, why not do both?

view of the water from eilean donan castle

History of Eilean Donan Castle

6th/7th century — A Christian monastic community was established on the island. The island’s name, “Eilean Donan,” pays homage to Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint martyred in 617, who is believed to have founded said community on the island.

13th century — During Alexander II’s rule, a castle was built to defend against Vikings, who used the nearby seas as highways. The castle was associated with Clan Mackenzie and Clan MacRae. The first iteration of the castle was the largest, and it was minimized through the years, most likely due to less people residing there.

18th century — The castle was bombarded by English forces during the Jacobite rebellions for over three days. Even with cannons, it was difficult to penetrate the castle’s thick 14-foot-thick walls, so the English went ashore and overwhelmed the Spanish defenders (who were on the Jacobites side). The English found gunpowder and blew up what remained of the castle.

20th century — The castle was reconstructed by Lieutenant-Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap, who dedicated 20 years of his life to restoring the castle to its former glory. The castle was rebuilt according to the surviving ground plan of earlier phases, according to the official Eilean Donan Castle website.

a Scottish flag flying besides Eilean Donan Castle

Final Thoughts

Do I think you should spend the time, energy, and money to visit Eilean Donan Castle and tour its interior? YES. I do.

I think it will be worth it, especially if you’ve come all this way to Scotland.

Tour the castle thoroughly, soak in its beauty. I don’t think you will regret it.

author, a young woman, fixing hair from the wind by a stone wall

Visit Eilean Donan Castle on a Group Tour

If you decide to go on a group tour, pay close attention to the itinerary so you know whether Eilean Donan is just a stop in the parking lot or if you will have time to tour the inside of the castle.

My mom and I visited Eilean Donan Castle while on a group tour from Inverness to the Isle of Skye. I did a full review of our incredible group tour, which you can read on my blog: “All About the 2-Day Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness.”

Group tours that go inside the castle

1-Day Tours from Inverness

2-Day Tours from Inverness

Timberbush Tours’ 2-Day Isle of Skye, the Fairy Pools, and Highland Castles Tour (the tour we did)

3-Day Tours from Edinburgh

Visit Eilean Donan Castle On Your Own

If you are visiting Eilean Donan Castle on your own, it’s best to come from either Inverness or Portree, as there are buses that go directly there in 1-2 hours and stop right in front of the castle.

Map out your route on the Scottish Citylink or on Google Maps.

I would not suggest coming directly from Edinburgh on public transport as it would take way too long. Best to take a train to Inverness first (stay in Inverness a few days) and then take a bus from there to the castle.

Luggage Storage

Eilean Donan Castle does not allow large bags inside the castle, but they do have luggage storage, on a first-come, first-served basis. Their largest lockers are W490mm x D485mm x H880mm.

the bridge going towards Eilean Donan Castle

Where to Stay to Visit Eilean Donan Castle

Dornie is the closest village to Eilean Donan Castle, it is right across the street, so it’s super convenient to stay here when visiting Eilean Donan Castle.

I don’t think you need to stay so close as your visit to the castle will be pretty short. So you can easily drive on to another destination if you’d prefer to stay elsewhere.

Can you stay at Eilean Donan Castle? No, you can’t stay inside Eilean Donan Castle, but you can stay nearby at the Eilean Donan Apartments or the cottage.

If Staying in Dornie

If Staying in Inverness

Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa (where we stayed)
AC Hotel Inverness (Marriott) (where we stayed)

If Staying in Portree

What’s Nearby Eilean Donan Castle?

Visit Manuela’s Wee Bakery

Manuela’s Wee Bakery is a bakery set in this cute fairy tale village, which the owners created/built themselves. You can walk around the village and then order a few treats. There are a lot of picnic tables to sit at as you eat.

Its location is very close to Eilean Donan Castle, so definitely stop here if you’re planning to visit the castle.

Fairy tale houses at Manuela's Wee Bakery in Scotland — Manuela’s Wee Bakery

What to Pack to Visit the Scottish Highlands

Warm, waterproof wear

If you’re visiting the Scottish Highlands during its cold and rainy season (almost every month of the year besides a few weeks in summer), you should definitely bring a warm waterproof jacket and waterproof walking boots.

This waterproof jacket and these waterproof boots I took with me to Scotland helped me explore no matter the weather. I even hiked to the Fairy Pools in near-hurricane-level winds in this jacket! Be prepared for rainy weather, and dress for it, so you don’t miss out.
Also consider bringing fleece-lined leggings — I loved this pair I packed!

Favorite travel essentials

I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.

I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.

I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.

I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.