dunrobin Castle and gardens

golspie, sutherland

A visit to Dunrobin Castle and Gardens is a fairytale experience. We promise you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a magical world.

This dreamy castle and its captivating grounds is the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Even children will love it.

The castle itself, with Rapunzelesque conical towers, dates back to the early 1300s and is home to the Dukes of Sutherland. And its gardens seem as if they have sprung from a wizard’s wand.

Laid out in 1850 by architect Sir Charles Barry – designer of the Houses of Parliament at Westminter – they were inspired by the romantic Palace of Versailles in Paris.

Just below the castle you will find his formal gardens, royally arranged into two parterres around circular pools with fountains. They have changed little in the 150 years since they were planted, although new plants are constantly being introduced. We think it’s nothing short of magic that its surprising array of growth not only survives the northerly location but flourishes.

Be sure to check out the huge clump of Gunnera manicata (a native rhubarb of South America) at the foot of the steps leading to the garden. It has eight foot leaves that will make you feel like Tom Thumb or Thumbelina!

A visit to Dunrobbin now includes exciting birds of prey demonstrations, between June and September.

Dunrobin, Golspie,Sutherland, KW10 6SF 01408 633177 dunrobincastle.co.uk