Hey there
my fiance and i are travelling around southeast england and scotland following places in our family trees and we MUST go to Eileen Doonan Castle in Scotland as his mother is a Macrae.
Can anyone tell me if we can stay in the castle, or if not where is the closest accomodation?
sharon_75
1
saoghalbeag
Pretty sure you can't stay in Eilean Donan castle as it is still lived in as a private residence. However there's a visitor centre on site - you could try emailing them for nearby accom. The wee village of Dornie is just nearby and there are B&Bs there. Otherwise, it's a not far from Skye so there are the villages of Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin (both full of hotels, hostels and B&Bs to suit every budget).
Also, go to the website:
www.eileandonancastle.com<BR><BR>You will find the castle is closed during Winter. Don't think it opens until April sometime. You can still go to the Gift Shop (how decent of them!) and wander up to the bridge of the castle but from memory they put a gate across it so you can't walk up. I think they sometimes live there during this time. When we went during summer parts of the castle were closed off because the family were in residence.
However, the history is really interesting, so worth dropping by anyway. And the scenery is stunning.
You used to be able to get a jetboat ride down from Kyleakin (think the company has since moved to Broadford so not sure if they go all the way down to the castle anymore)
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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