Scottish Castles

Local information

Dunvegan Castle, Scottish Highlands

Location: Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, IV55 8WF (map and directions)

Located 1.5 miles north of Dunvegan and 22 miles from Portree on the Isle of Skye, Dunvegan Castle has been the seat of the chief of Clan MacLeod, the MacLeod of MacLeod for the last 800 years and has earned the title as the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. Interestingly, Dunvegan is also the only Scottish castle which still has its original roof.

Dunvegan Castle © Mihael Grmek

History of Dunvegan Castle

After over 700 years as a private residence of Clan MacLeod, Dunvegan was opened to the public in 1933 and has received several famous visitors such as Sir Walter Scott, the Japanese Emperor Akihito and HM Queen Elizabeth II.

Visitors to the castle are able to see five out of six major buildings on the estate as well as the Castle Gardens of Dunvegan Castle, which are open all year round and date back to the 18th century.

Within the castle there are several important clan relics, which include the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan, the Dunvegan Cup and Sir Rory Mor’s Horn. The story behind the Fairy Flag goes that the Queen of the Fairies gave the MacLeod clan the flag in return for a favour. If the MacLeods ever needed help, they could wave the flag and the fairies would come to their aid. There was a three-wave limit, and the flag has been used twice, leaving one remaining wave.

Dunvegan Castle © Pam Brophy

Dunvegan Castle has ‘starred’ in several film and TV productions such as Highlander, Made of Honor and several BBC productions.

Map and directions

Other castles in Scottish Highlands