Dunrobin Castle
Highland, Scotland
Key facts
- Operator
- Sutherland Estates
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Nearest station
- Dunrobin Castle, 0.3 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Seasonal Apr-Oct; falconry displays
Pinpoint
Golspie KW10 6SF
Telephone 01408 633177
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
The Sutherland family seat on the Highland coast, and one of the largest inhabited houses in the north of Scotland - a visit that takes in furnished rooms, formal gardens and a falconry display featuring hawks and falcons. Reviewers consistently rate it among the best-kept and most complete castle interiors in Scotland.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The falconry display in the gardens - named by reviewers again and again as a highlight distinct from the castle tour itself.
Before you go
Allow a good two hours to do the castle, gardens and falconry display justice - it's a bigger visit than the castle-only sites nearby, and it's open Apr-Oct only.
What visitors say
Dunrobin Castle reviews · 4.7 / 5 across 9,485 Google reviews
Recent reviews on file are all five-star, and the falconry show comes up as a standout highlight across multiple reviews, alongside the well-maintained rooms, museum and gardens.
Visitors consistently describe it as a full, well-run day out, though one reviewer notes there are a lot of stairs to manage, which may not suit visitors with mobility difficulties.
“Fabulous visit to the wonderful castle then a wee glass of amazing Dunrobin gin. After lunch we wandered round the gardens and enjoyed the Falconry display. It was so interesting and watching the birds was amazing. …”- Rhona Brown, visitor review
History
Earls of Sutherland · early 1300s (earliest parts ~1275)
Dunrobin has stood on Scotland's northeast coast since the early 1300s, with its earliest portions dating to around 1275, making it one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses. The Earls and Dukes of Sutherland enlarged it over centuries, with later additions by architect Sir Charles Barry creating the distinctive French château appearance.
Drawn from Sutherland Estates's own page.
Plan your visit
- Combine this with
- Dornoch Castle Hotel is only 7.7 miles away - worth pairing into the same day. See Dornoch Castle Hotel →
- 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.
Common questions about Dunrobin Castle
Where is Dunrobin Castle?
Dunrobin Castle is in Highland, Scotland, at Golspie KW10 6SF.
Do you need a ticket to visit Dunrobin Castle?
Yes - Dunrobin Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Sutherland Estates. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
What is the highlight of visiting Dunrobin Castle?
The falconry display in the gardens - named by reviewers again and again as a highlight distinct from the castle tour itself.
Is Dunrobin Castle a ruin or still intact?
Dunrobin Castle is largely intact - Seasonal Apr-Oct; falconry displays.
