The Skye Guide

Dunvegan Castle is probably the oldest inhabited castle in the north of Scotland. It has been occupied continuously by the Chiefs of the Clan MacLeod for more than 750 years. The present - and 30th - clan chief is Hugh Magnus MacLeod.

The castle is in a wonderful setting on the shore of Loch Dunvegan at NG247491. There is plenty of space for parking, toilet facilities, a gift shop (nicely refurbished in 2010) and a decent coffee shop/snack bar called The MacLeods Table Restaurant. It’s basic, but fine for family lunch.

The gardens are well worth exploring, with plenty to interest the enthusiast, especially in the walled garden area. For the rest of us, it is still a good place for a pleasant stroll among waterfalls, woodland and some pretty plants. The rhododendrons are stunning, and the Gulf Stream allows a surprising variety of species of plant and tree to grow here. Less mobile visitors should note that many of the paths are steep and roughly surfaced.

From the car park to the castle itself is an easy walk on a metalled road. There are room-by-room information sheets in several languages to help you get the most out of your visit, so I’ll not try to duplicate the detail. So here are just a few personal pointers to what I think are the best bits.