A day trip to Dunrobin Castle is a must when you are in Inverness. Whilst Inverness is one of my favourite Scottish cities, the surrounding area is ripe for exploring and there is so much to see, do and learn. The castle is only about 45 minutes away and en-route you’ll get to see the glorious Highlands.
If you are planning a trip to Dunrobin Castle from Inverness, then this quick guide will tell you all you need to know and more. Enjoy.
Day Trip to Dunrobin Castle from Inverness | Your Quick Guide
Getting to Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is not far from Inverness and it is really easy to get to by car or bus. There are also plenty of tours that include it as part of their day. By bus or car it can take just over one hour to get here. If you are opting for public transport, I’d suggest taking the X99 as this is the quickest; train journeys can take almost double the time.
The route by car is arguably the simplest option. Almost the entirety of the journey will go along the A9 road, which actually has some beautiful views of the highland and coastline.
Our day trip to Dunrobin Castle was actually through a tour to John O’Groats to Inverness. We went with Timberbush Tours, who were really good. We paid £62.00 for our tickets (this did not include access to Dunrobin), but the price fluctuates depending on the season and availability.
Tickets to Dunrobin Castle
You can buy tickets to Dunrobin Castle either online or when you arrive (we did the latter). The prices vary, but for an adult it costs £15.50 and a child costs £9.00. A family pass is also available for £45.00 and there are concessions for students and seniors.
The castle is also open each day from 10:00 to 17:00 from May to September, whereas in April and October it is open from 10:30 to 16:30. It is also closed during the winter months.
Exploring Dunrobin Castle | Information
Dunrobin Castle is one of the most impressive castles in Scotland. The building is the ancestral home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland, with an impressive history which dates back to the 1300s. In my opinion, the castle is almost Germanic in its architecture; it has a fairytale appearance which could have easily been commissioned by Prince Ludwig. When you combine this with immaculately-kept gardens with impressive coastal views, then you have a very special place indeed.
Touring the Castle
There is actually a fair amount on offer when you enter the castle. I always think that these are hit-and-miss whenever we go on castle tours, but I enjoyed Dunrobin and felt that I learnt a lot whilst walking about.
You’ll be able to access plenty of rooms, each telling you a bit about the history of the Sutherland Family and their role in key historic events, such as the Jacobite Rising. I felt that the rooms had kept their character and varied from impressive to actually quite spooky (apparently, the doll room is actually haunted!).
The tour will take you about half-an-hour if you do it at a reasonable pace. At the end is a gift shop and a nice cafeteria to relax in before exploring the gardens.
Strolling Through the Gardens
My favourite part of my day trip to Dunrobin Castle was our stroll in the gardens. Unlike the seemingly Germanic architecture, the gardens appear to have been transplanted from a French chateau. We visited during July which is arguably when the gardens are at their most impressive. You’ll see neat hedges arranged in little patterns, rich flower beds and plenty of water features which all make for a perfect place to leisurely walk about.
I also think that the setting of the castle really adds a lot of value here. To one side, you have the Scottish Highlands, which are beautiful all year round. To the other, you have the rough North Sea which adds an extra dimension to the gardens. Overall, they are really worth your time exploring, maybe even with a takeaway coffee from the café.
Falconry Display
Whilst you are in the gardens, you’ll likely see a large crowd gathering for the falconry display. We really enjoyed watching the various hawks and falcons fly about the grounds. The displays take place at 11:30 and 14:30 each day and I would suggest arriving early. We found that all the best seats (the ones behind the falconer) went quickly! You can find more information here.
Nearby Attractions – Dornoch and the Coast
If you have driven by car, I would suggest making the most of the opportunity of being up here to explore. Near to Dunrobin is the small town of Dornoch, which has a fair amount to see. There is a beautiful cathedral and another castle to explore. I would also suggest having lunch here. The tea rooms at the castle are meant to be pretty good. After exploring, I would suggest heading to Dornoch Beach. It is a great place to relax or go for a walk after a busy day exploring.
Final Thoughts | Day Trip to Dunrobin Castle from Inverness
A day trip to Dunrobin Castle from Inverness is really easy and is a great way to see the highlands. I would recommend going by either a car or as part of a tour for ease, but the journey up here is well-worth it. I hope that you found this quick guide useful to help you plan your day, but if you have any questions let me know.
