Dunnottar Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Photo: Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Ouiouiphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0 · niky81, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Dunecht Estates
- Condition
- Ruin
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Nearest station
- Stonehaven, 1.8 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Ticketed clifftop ruin; open year-round, weather permitting
Pinpoint
Stonehaven AB39 2TL
Telephone 01569 766320
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| 1 Apr - 30 Sept | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| 1 Oct - 26 Oct | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| 27 Oct - 31 Jan | 10:00 - 15:00 |
| 1 Feb - 28 Feb | 10:00 - 16:00 |
| 1 Mar - 31 Mar | 10:00 - 17:00 |
Last entry is one hour before closing.
- Closed
- Closed most years around Christmas and New Year - check the official website nearer the time for exact dates.
- Weather
- The castle may close at short notice in high winds or excessive snow and ice - check the Met Office forecast for the Stonehaven area before setting off.
- Tickets
- Buy on arrival at the castle ticket kiosk or in advance online; card payments only.
Dunnottar is a ruined fortress on a rock promontory above the North Sea, reached by a steep path down and back up from the clifftop car park. It's the highest-rated site in this batch, and reviewers are near-unanimous that the setting alone justifies the walk, even before the ruins themselves come into it.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The clifftop approach and the view of the ruins from the surrounding cliff path - reviewers call it one of the most dramatic castle settings anywhere in Scotland.
Before you go
The walk back up from the ruin is steep, so pace yourself, and check the last-admission time before you go, as it catches people out. Entry runs around £13, which some reviewers find steep for a ruin, though most say the setting alone earns it.
What visitors say
Dunnottar Castle reviews · 4.8 / 5 across 13,279 Google reviews
Visitors are consistently struck by Dunnottar Castle's dramatic clifftop setting above the North Sea, calling the views among the best in Scotland and well worth the fairly steep walk to reach it.
A couple of practical notes recur: the entrance fee (around £13) feels steep to some who chose to admire it from outside instead, and it's worth checking the last admission time before you go.
“Epic location , the climb is no joke though, but the reward is worth it. More than the excellent views plea see read up on the history before you go. The green dress , possible Wallace invasion, the saving of the…”- Cameron Fairweather, visitor review
Getting in - what Dunecht Estates says
Dramatic clifftop location presents access considerations. Access Guide available for planning visits. Refreshments available from C & L Catering Van. Contact castle at +44 (0) 1569 766320 for specific accessibility details.
Taken from Dunecht Estates’s own website and read 28 July 2026 - check the current version. Access can change with building work, weather and staffing - if the visit depends on it, ring ahead.
History
William Keith · c.1359
Dunnottar Castle occupies a dramatic clifftop promontory on the northeast Scottish coast. The Keith family held it from the 14th century onwards, and it became famous for sheltering Scotland's Crown Jewels from Oliver Cromwell's forces in the 17th century.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plan your visit
- Combine this with
- Drum Castle is only 11.6 miles away - worth pairing into the same day. See Drum Castle →
- Tickets & opening times
- Check current prices and hours with the operator before travelling - details change more often than any directory can track.
- Data checked
- Ratings, review counts and the visitor-note quotes above were drawn from publicly available Google reviews. Castles change hands and adjust hours faster than any directory can track in real time.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “Big highlight, easily reachable over a car park or even better, walking approx 40 mins from Stonehaven.” - Eva-Maria Oberauer
- Terrain & accessibility
- “The walk back up is quite tough going as its steep, however on a nice day it is worth making the journey.” - Jemma Lovie
- Facilities
- “There are toilets here too that are open during the castle business hours and there is a food van selling snacks, meals and drinks too.” - Jemma Lovie
For your visit
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gear
Vinsani Foldable Picnic Blanket (260 x 220cm)
One of the larger blankets available, with sand- and waterproof backing and a carry strap for a bigger group spread out on the lawns. A good fit for the clifftop walk at Dunnottar Castle.
Find it on Amazon
gear
Milton Vacuum Flask for Hot Drink 1 Litre, Thermosteel Flip Lid
Claims 24-hour retention and comes with a protective outer cover - worth having if the plan is a flask of soup at the far end of a long grounds walk. Keeps you going during exploring the ruins.
Find it on Amazon
gear
SKYSPER Small Hiking Backpack 20L
Water-resistant fabric and several separate compartments for keeping tickets, snacks and a phone apart from anything damp - a solid budget option with a long track record. Keeps things to hand during a walk round the grounds.
Find it on Amazon
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Skechers Women's Summits 12985 Trainers
Memory-foam cushioning in a slip-on trainer - an easy recommendation for anyone doing a lot of level walking around the grounds rather than climbing a keep. Solid underfoot for a day out in Aberdeenshire.
Find it on AmazonCommon questions about Dunnottar Castle
Where is Dunnottar Castle?
Dunnottar Castle is in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, at Stonehaven AB39 2TL.
Do you need a ticket to visit Dunnottar Castle?
Yes - Dunnottar Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Dunecht Estates. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
What is the highlight of visiting Dunnottar Castle?
The clifftop approach and the view of the ruins from the surrounding cliff path - reviewers call it one of the most dramatic castle settings anywhere in Scotland.
Is Dunnottar Castle a ruin or still intact?
Dunnottar Castle is a ruin - Ticketed clifftop ruin; open year-round, weather permitting.
