Find Scotland Tours that visit Dunvegan Castle.
| Address: | Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, IV55 8WF |
| Operated by: | Clan MacLeod |
| Opening Hours: | April to Mid October, 10 am to 5 pm Mid October to March, 11 am to 4 pm Closed 25th & 26th December, 1st & 2nd January |
| Admission: | Adult £7.50, Child £4, Senior £6, Family £25 |
| Parking: | Yes |
| Languages: | English |
| Accessibility: | Limited accessibility |
| Toilets: | Yes, also disabled toilets |
| Shop: | Yes |
| Cafe/Restaurant: | Yes |
Dunvegan Castle has been the stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years and it remains the home of the Clan Chief. Not the most attractive of castles from the outside, it looks a bit like a block of flats with turrets. Internally the castle is much more luxuriously decorated than you might expect with some garish pink painted rooms. Some parts of the castle are more austere and you see the entrance to the old dungeon.
The most intriguing item on display in Dunvegan castle is the legendary “Fairy Flag” which the Macleods have twice used successfully at the Battle of Glendale and the Battle of Trumpan. According to legend the clan may use the flag only three times when they are in need. The flag is now a bit tattered as various members of the Macleod Clan would cut off a piece for good luck when going off to war. A practice that continued up to World War 1.
There is a story connected to why the Macleods inherited the Fairy Flag. In summary, a Macleod chief had a child with a Fairy Princess, but the princess had to go back to the land of the Fairies (as they do). As she left the child for the last time she wrapped it in a shawl which had magic powers of protection (The Fairy Flag). On the road to Waternish, you pass the Fairy Bridge where the Chief and the Fairy Princess parted.
If you don’t want to pay the high entry fee, then you can still get a photo of the castle by driving further along the single track road after the castle entrance. There are several passing places where you can stop and get views back towards the castle.
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Last Updated: 16/06/2009