Doune Castle
Castle Hill, Doune, Scotland, FK16 6EA
A favorite filming location for movie and TV productions, medieval Doune Castle has appeared inMonty Python and the Holy Grail,Game of Thrones, andOutlander. Built for the Duke of Albany in the 14th century, the castle—now semi-ruined—has welcomed such illustrious guests as Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charles.
The Basics
The best way to independently visit Doune Castle, managed by Historic Environment Scotland, is to prebook your timed entry. An audio tour, narrated by Monty Python star Terry Jones, guides you around the property, revealing tales from the castle’s history and filming anecdotes. Your entry includes access to several rooms, including the great hall and the kitchen, although the interior is mostly empty.
Screen buffs might prefer to visit the caste as part of anOutlander-themed tours from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Or, join a sightseeing tour with included transportation that combines a visit to two castles, Stirling and Duone. Other tours venture into Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
Things to Know Before You Go
Doune Castle is a must for Monty Python fans and history buffs.
You find parking and restrooms at the castle, and plenty of cafes in the nearby village of Doune.
Entry to the castle is included with the Historic Scotland Explorer Pass.
Much of the castle is inaccessible to travelers using wheelchairs.
There are views of the River Teith toward the Menteith Hills from the battlements.
How to Get There
Doune Castle is about 9 miles (14 kilometers) from Stirling for a 20-minute drive. First Scotland East bus service No. 59 runs between Stirling and Callander, stopping at Bank Street in Doune village, about .5 miles (.8 kilometers) from the castle site for about a 10-minute walk.
When to Get There
Doune Castle is open daily year-round with extended opening hours between April and September. If you visit outside of these months, note that last entry is 3:30pm.
Deanston Distillery
While in Doune, consider making a visit to nearby Deanston Distillery. Set on the banks of the River Teith, this distillery—housed in an old cotton mill—has been producing Scotch whisky since the 1960s. Tours range from standard distillery tours that include a tasting of 12-year-old whisky to special tours of the old cooperage—now a warehouse for maturing whiskies—where you can taste spirits straight from the cask.
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