The impressive ruins of Urquhart Castle lie on a rocky promontory on the northern banks of Loch Ness. An ideal site for a fortress, affording prominent views of the surrounding approaches, surrounded on three sides by the deep waters of the Loch, and being easily defendable from the landward side. First mentioned c1230, when the lordship was granted to Alan Durward after Alexander II had crushed a northern uprising, Urquhart Castle has witnessed a chequered past. Quickly falling into the hands of Edward I of England after his first invasion of Scotland, regained briefly by the Scots until Edward invaded for a second time in 1303, and finally held by the Scots under Robert the Bruce by 1308.

For several decades things remained reasonably settled, but when the lords of the Western Isles, the Macdonald's, laid claim to the Kingdom of Ross in 1390 this again signalled the passing back and forth of Urquhart Castle between the warring factions. By 1479 the Glen had been devastated. Eventually the Crown regained control, and the estate was leased to Sir Duncan Grant of Freuchie, whose heirs successfully maintained order in the Glen until 1513. When the King was killed at Flodden, the Macdonald's once again commanded the Glen, and held the Urquhart Castle for the next three years.

Major repairs where carried out once peace had been restored in the late 16th century, and at the same time the familiar Tower House was built. At the turn of the 17th century the Lord was not regularly using the now antiquated Urquhart Castle, as more modern comfortable residences were being sought. Urquhart Castle did see one final action in 1689 during the Jacobite uprising, when it was defended by a garrison loyal to William & Mary. Various parts of Urquhart Castle were blown up by the garrison before they left, rendering it unusable. The remainder was robbed of its stone and slowly allowed to fall into decay, bringing a final close to Urquhart Castle's bloody history.

Approached from the west via a drawbridge and gatehouse, the site opens into an Upper Bailey to the south, and an Inner Bailey, of a later date, to the north. Little survives of the Upper Bailey above foundation level, although evidence suggests that this was where the original fortifications were constructed. The Inner Bailey contains all the accommodation familiar with medieval castles, with a Great Hall, chambers and kitchens to the east, and a Chapel in the centre. There are also the remains of the water gate, leading to the eastern shore which would have been a vital means of supply, especially in times of conflict. At the northern tip of the site stands the remains of the five storey Tower House, which survives almost to its full height, although the east elevation has now collapsed. Its entrance was seperated from an inner courtyard by a deep ditch, which would have been covered by a wooden walkway.

Now a beautifully haunting ruin, surrounded by some of the finest scenery in the highlands, Urquhart Castle is today one of Scotland's most evocative images. Along with tales of the 'Loch Ness monster', this makes the site one of the most visited places on the tourist map.