Noltland Castle
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Photo: Liberaler Humanist, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Liberaler Humanist, CC BY-SA 3.0 ยท Liberaler Humanist, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Historic Environment Scotland
- Condition
- Ruin
- Access
- Free, open access
- Nearest station
- Thurso, 53.8 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- On Westray; free, famed for 71 gun holes
Pinpoint
Orkney KW17 2DW
Telephone 01856 872044
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| 1 April - 30 September | Daily 9.30am to 5.30pm |
| 1 October - 31 March | Daily 10am to 4pm |
- Closed
- 25 and 26 December; 1 and 2 January
Checked against the official page on 13 August 2026.
A ruin on Westray, left unfinished and, according to visitors, commissioned by a figure with a genuinely dark reputation. Its most distinctive feature is 71 gun holes built into the walls, an unusually heavy defensive design for a Scottish tower house. It's unsupervised and free, with barely any on-site information, so reviewers suggest reading up before you go.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The 71 gun holes - an extraordinary concentration of defensive firepower for a single tower house, and the detail that sets Noltland apart from every other Orkney ruin.
Before you go
It's unsupervised with almost no on-site information, so look up the building's history before visiting; reviewers also warn it feels bigger and more maze-like inside than it looks from outside, so mind your step on the old stone stairs.
What visitors say
Noltland Castle reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 94 Google reviews
Visitors consistently find Noltland Castle atmospheric and worth the stop when on Westray, with several drawn to its unusual, unfinished history and the unsavoury reputation of the laird who commissioned it.
Reviews are split on the level of on-site information - some found the information boards helpful, while one felt there was barely any interpretation and noted the site is unsupervised, so a guided tour (available locally) is recommended by one reviewer for getting more out of the visit.
It's free to enter, with a free car park nearby.
“Very impressive. You can clamber right to the top. Its not supervised and barely any info but its a very atmospheric place.”- wendy pearn, visitor review
History
Gilbert Balfour · 1560
Gilbert Balfour, Master of the Royal Household to Mary Queen of Scots, built this castle from 1560 onwards. Seized and returned multiple times by rival Earls of Orkney, it eventually passed to the Balfours permanently by 1606. Covenanters burned it during the 1650 Wars of the Three Kingdoms; it fell to ruin thereafter.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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
- “Car park is free, if you're driving.” - Catherine Cowlishaw
Common questions about Noltland Castle
Where is Noltland Castle?
Noltland Castle is in Orkney Islands, Scotland, at Orkney KW17 2DW.
Is Noltland Castle free to visit?
Yes - Noltland Castle is a free, open-access site with no ticket booth, looked after by Historic Environment Scotland. There may still be a charge for nearby parking, and open-access arrangements can change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel.
What is the highlight of visiting Noltland Castle?
The 71 gun holes - an extraordinary concentration of defensive firepower for a single tower house, and the detail that sets Noltland apart from every other Orkney ruin.
Is Noltland Castle a ruin or still intact?
Noltland Castle is a ruin - On Westray; free, famed for 71 gun holes.
