A Guide to Visiting Scotland’s Doune Castle
If you’re looking for a Scottish castle with a unique pedigree, stop by Doune Castle during your trip to Scotland!
While there are many castles that you can choose to tour in Scotland, Doune Castle is particularly fascinating for its real and fictional history.
It famously serves as the film location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and in more recent years, the exterior of the castle served as the home for Jamie Fraser in the earlier seasons of Outlander.
In the guide below, you’ll find everything that you need to visit Doune Castle while you’re in Scotland, including what to expect while you’re there, what you can’t miss in and outside the castle, and what to do nearby.
As with all of my guides, I’m highlighting elements that are particularly family friendly, but these suggestions also work well for any first time visitor to this incredible place!
Me at Doune Castle near one of the famous Monty Python and the Holy Grail filming locations
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Doune Castle: An Overview
It’s an iconic castle with a fascinating history outside of its media appearances, and it is well worth a few hours of your time while you’re in the Stirling, Scotland, area.
Today, the castle is partially in ruins, which adds to its mysterious feel and picturesque position on the hill above Doune village.
It’s just over an hour by car from Edinburgh, making it one of the best day trips from Edinburgh that you can take.
Doune Castle is northwest of Edinburgh via the M9, and makes for a beautiful and easy exploration into the Scottish countryside.
When we were planning our 7 day road trip itinerary through Scotland, I knew that Doune Castle was one of the places that we had to stop!
What is Doune Castle Known For?
Doune Castle is one of those rare places that has a fascinating early history and then saw a massive revival in interest hundreds of years later.
It’s an excellent destination for both history and film buffs, and there’s also plenty to enjoy here if you just like looking at cool old buildings.
Place in Scottish History
It was built sometime in the 1200s, and then added to in mid-to-late 1300s to something resembling its current appearance.
The property’s rise to prominence truly occurred in 1425, when Doune Castle was taken by the Scottish crown to be used for mainly for hunting expeditions.
It was occasionally used as a royal retreat, as the castle was fortified and secure enough that the Scottish kings and their families could use it without fear of being attacked.
The royal family used it up until James VI’s reign, but, when he left Scotland to rule in England as James I, the castle slowly began to fall into disrepair.
There have been several attempts to fully restore the castle, but there’s debate about what the castle looked like at different points in its history.
Some historians even argue that what we see today is the result of the castle never actually being finished, while others argue that it was once much bigger but damaged in the Scottish Wars of Independence or in local skirmishes.
Either way, the castle property today has an excellent balance of mysterious ruin and restored living areas so that you can get an idea of what it might have been like to reside here hundreds of years ago.
Place in Modern Film History
More recently, the castle has been used in many popular films and television shows, including Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), the Outlander series (2014-2026), and Game of Thrones (2011-2019).
Monty Python and the Holy Grail filming locations
The low budget that Monty Python has resulted in the castle being used creatively in different scenes and from many different angles, including:
the insulting Frenchman scene, where a French guard calls the Knights of the Round Table “silly English pig dogs,” and mentions that Arthur’s mom “was a hamster” and that his father “smelt of elderberries.” A flying cow is involved in the conflict.
the Trojan Rabbit scene, where the knights attempt to get back at the terribly mean Frenchmen.
the Camelot singing scene, where Arthur and the knights take refuge one night on their journey. This is inside the main living area in the castle.
Doune Castle truly is in every nook and cranny of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and to visit the castle is to feel like you’re inside the film! (You’ll need to bring your own coconuts, though, or pick up a pair in the castle gift shop.)
If you’re interested in learning more about the behind-the-scenes of filming Monty Python at the castle, this YouTube video is a great deep dive.
We really love seeking out interesting film locations on our travels, like the Quiet Man filming locations in Cong, Ireland and the many filming locations in and around Charleston, South Carolina!
Outlander filming locations
While Outlander doesn’t have as much of a presence here as Monty Python and the Holy Grail does, it’s still featured prominently several times in the Scottish romance-drama.
Doune Castle was chosen to be the exterior of the fictional Castle Leoch, which is the seat of the MacKenzie clan in the movies.
You can see the exterior of the castle distinctly in multiple scenes in the television series’ first season as Jamie Fraser travels back to see his cousins and extended family here.
While the interior shots of Castle Leoch were filmed on a sound stage, the set designers pulled many elements from Doune Castle to help create the feeling of a working castle space pre-Battle of Culloden.
If you want to see Doune Castle and many other fantastic Outlander sites, I highly recommend this guided, full day tour of Outlander filming locations. It includes admission to Doune Castle and Blackness Castle, and you’ll get a fully narrated tour from Edinburg to help you immerse yourself in all things Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp.
Game of Thrones filming locations
In the high fantasy drama series Game of Thrones, you can see Doune Castle as it serves as the family home of the Starks in Winterfell in the show’s pilot episode.
Doune Castle’s courtyard is featured, and you can see the stone well and walls throughout the scenes.
Ultimately, the filming location for Winterfell shifted to both sound stages and Castle Ward in Northern Irealnd as the show’s budget and following increased.
Other moments in film and television
While those three above are the most well known of Doune Castle’s time in the spotlight, they’re far from a complete list.
Doune Castle’s brushes with literary and silver screen fame goes back to when British author Sir Walter Scott included the castle in his iconic novel Waverley (1814).
“On the opposite bank of the river, and partly surrounded by a winding of its stream, stood a large and massive castle [Doune Castle], the half-ruined turrets of which were already glittering in the first rays of the sun. It was in form an oblong square, of size sufficient to contain a large court in the centre. The towers at each angle of the square rose higher than the walls of the building, and were in their turn surmounted by turrets, differing in height and irregular in shape. Upon one of these a sentinel watched, whose bonnet and plaid, streaming in the wind, declared him to be a Highlander, as a broad white ensign, which floated from another tower, announced that the garrison was held by the insurgent adherents of the House of Stuart.” - Waverley, Sir Walter Scott
In 1952 and then again in 1996, it was scouted as a location for two different filmings of Ivanhoe, which was based on another novel by Sir Walter Scott.
In 2018, The Outlaw King starring Chris Pine and Florence Pugh was filmed here. You can see the castle’s exterior and the courtyard.
When is the best time to visit?
I know that Scotland in the late fall, winter, or early spring can be rainy and cold, but it’s honestly the best time to go.
Prices are lower between November 1st and the beginning of April, and hotel rooms can be found on deep discounts. Crowds are nearly non-existent outside of Edinburgh, but nearly every attraction is still open through the low season.
That means that you can see the same incredible places as all of the other visitors to Scotland, but you can do so for a lower price and with far fewer crowds.
One the day that we visited in mid-November, it was very quiet at Doune Castle, and we had the place to ourselves.
We had a great time wandering around that drafty, quiet castle!
NOTE: Visiting hours are shorted in the winter, but that is easily managed. I still highly recommend going to Scotland in the low season if you’re able, and it’s one of my top tips for visiting Scotland on a budget.
What to See in the Castle
You’ll enter through the front gates of the castle, which helps you appreciate how imposing that prospect would be if you were visiting back in the 1400s and weren’t sure if you’d be welcomed.
First, stop by the gift shop, which is located just inside of the gates. This is where you’ll buy your tickets, grab a souvenir, and get instructions on how to access the audio tour.
If you don’t want to buy your magnet, stickers, books, t-shirt, or other souvenirs now, you will exit through the main gates, and will come right past here again.
You’ll then pass through the courtyard on the way to several rooms in the castle.
The Great Hall has an imposing medieval feel about it, thanks to the solid stone floors and stone-and-mortar walls. Look for the intricately carved bench along one wall, which makes for a beautiful photo backdrop.
Sitting in the Great Hall at Doune Castle and listening to my audio guide
Back when this was used as a residence, this room (and the others you see) would’ve been warmed up with rugs and wall tapestries, so it wouldn’t have been the grey, cold existence you might think.
This is where banquets and social gatherings would’ve been held, and it’s the largest room in the castle.
Next door, the Lord’s Hall is brighter with wood wall paneling and a colorful patterned floor. The Lord’s Hall decorations include various crests, and a huge wooden desk with seating.
The Lord’s Hall and Great Hall are accessible only via outdoor staircases from the courtyard, which is an unusual feature among all of the castles we’ve visited. This is one reason why historians think that the castle might be unfinished.
Down below, you can walk through the large courtyard, which is walled in on three sides, and then closed in on the fourth side by the castle’s main living areas.
There’s a stone well rising out of the middle of the courtyard, and doors to several cellars can be accessed from the central area. Look up to see the windows on the exterior walls. Here is yet another reason why the castle seems to be unfinished!
Why else would the castle’s builders go to the trouble of including windows so high up in the exterior wall if they weren’t going be used in a future room?
You’re able to walk out onto the ramparts, which provides an excellent view of the surroundings grounds and the little village.
There’s a waist high stone wall up here, which helps you feel more secure if you’re scared of heights but still want to see the views.
What to See on the Grounds of Doune Castle
If you want to relive your favorite moments from Monty Python or Outlander, there is plenty of opportunity to do so as visitors are allowed to wander the grounds at their leisure.
You can recreate the insulting Frenchman scene by walking around to the back of the castle, where you can clearly see the areas where Arthur and his knights stood while looking up at the French guards.
Elsewhere on the grounds, you can learn about the Roman fort that was found on the northern end of the castle’s property.
To get to this area, walk out of the castle’s main gates, head down past the parking area, and through a gate that will lead you out onto the wide, grassy field where the fort once stood.
It’s a perfect example of Britain’s layered history, where Roman history sits directly next to medieval and modern history.
On a nice day, head out on a walk through the castle grounds and down to the River Teith. To access this short, gravel hike, head out of the castle’s main gates, turn to the right, and look for the wide path into the woods.
From here, you can follow the path past the base of the castle and through a wooden gate. You’ll pass by the ruins of a medieval mill on a slight hill to your left, and you’ll walk between the Ardoch Burn (stream) to your left and the River Teith on your right.
Before the path circles back towards the castle, you’ll be able to sit on a bench overlooking the River Teith.
This walk is quiet and peaceful, and is well worth 30 or so minutes of your time.
Plan more of your family’s trip to the British Isles with these helpful posts!
Tips for Visiting Doune Castle
Be sure to get the audio tour.
The audio tour comes free with your admission and it’s narrated by both Terry Jones of Monty Python fame and Sam Heughan of the Outlander series.
They both do an incredible job of guiding you through the castle, and the audio tour is entertaining and captivating, even if you’ve never seen either of the shows that the narrators have been in.
You will need to bring your own phone to listen to the audio tour. The castle does have headphones that you can borrow, but they can, and do, run out at peak times.
To ensure that you’re able to listen to the audio tour privately, bring your own headphones or ear buds.
Parking can be rough in the summer.
Doune Castle, thanks to its place in Hollywood history, sees hundreds of visitors a day during the summer.
There is a small parking area in front of the castle, but it’s not enough to hold everyone during peak times.
If you arrive at the castle and there aren’t any spots left, you’ll need to head back into the village of Doune to park there.
You’ll find 3 different parking lots for visitors in the village, and these usually don’t fill up, even at peak visitation times.
The one that I recommend is Castlehill Car Park, which is about 0.4 miles from the castle. It’s an easy walk on foot, and you’ll be able to see parts of the cute village of Doune in the process.
The other parking areas in Doune are the Doune Pond Car Park (0.7 miles from the castle), and Draggie Burn Park and Stride (0.9 miles from the castle).
Doune Pond Car Park is on the northern end of Doune Village. It only holds about a dozen cars, and it’s located near multiple shops and restaurants if you get hungry before you go to the castle.
Draggie Burn Park and Stride is the biggest, but also the furthest away.
If you park at the Draggie Burn site, you’ll follow the A84 on the provided sidewalks, so it’s not a hard walk there.
Parking is free at the castle, and in the 3 parking areas in and around the village.
The visiting hours are very short in the winter.
While the castle stays open year round, the last tour tickets are sold at only 3:15 PM between the beginning of October and end of March.
You’d then have to hustle through your tour and be done with seeing everything by 4 PM, when it closes to the public.
If you are visiting in the winter and want the full experience of exploring the castle and grounds, arrive as close to the opening time of 10 AM as possible. This will give you more time without feeling rushed.
NOTE: Between April 1st and May 31st, the castle is open from 10 AM to 5 PM with the last entry ticket being sold at 4:15 PM. In the summer season (June 1st to September 30th), the castle opens at 9:30 AM and stays open until 5:30 PM with the last ticket being sold at 4:45 PM.
There’s no food or snacks available in the castle.
Looking back towards the village of Doune from the castle
If learning about history and exploring the castle, works up an appetite, you’ll need to head out of the castle and down into the village of Doune to grab some food.
Yummy House, a Chinese restaurant, is the closest sit-down place to the castle. It’s on the corner of Main Street and King Street approximately 0.4 miles from the castle.
If you’d rather grab some picnic items, there is a Co-op Foods (a small supermarket) on Castlehill Court, which is right off of Main Street in the village.
Moray Public Park is a short 2 minute walk from Co-op Foods and makes for a great place to enjoy your grab-and-go sandwiches, yogurt, fruit, or whatever else you picked up.
The Buttercup Cafe is a super cute cafe with scones, pastries, coffee, and tea, and it’s a cozy place to enjoy a quick rest from your sightseeing. It’s at 7 Main Street and is a short 8 minute walk from the castle.
If you’re walking from the Doune Pond Car Park or the Draggie Burn Park and Stride, you’ll pass right by the Buttercup Cafe and Yummy House, making these great options on the way back to your car.
