Eilean Donan Castle one of the most beautiful castles in Europe

Eilean Donan Castle one of the most beautiful castles in Europe

Two Scottish castles have been ranked as “the most beautiful” in Europe by a notable travel outlet.

Eilean Donan Castle in the Highlands and Culzean Castle in Ayrshire featured in a must-see list of medieval buildings published by Brazilian travel guide Vegas Pelo Mundo.

Eilean Donan Castle prints can be ordered online . Original images of Eilean Donan Castle by David Rankin

Castles from seven countries feature in the top 10, with Culzean Castle ranking 9th and Eilean Donan Castle coming in at 10th place. Eilean Donan dates back nearly 800 years . After his defeat at the Battle of Methven, Robert the Bruce sought refuge within its walls in the 1300s.
Its breathtaking surrounding landscapes inspired the Disney film Brave to life, which focuses on Scotland’s intriguing ancient folklore. Although it looks crumbling from the outside, the castle has been reconstructed and is open to the public.

Eilean Donan Castle has appeared in several films , including the James Bond film the World is not Enough and Highlander but the castle was not a Game of Thrones film location . Eilean Donan Castle tours can be booked online or by phone / Whatsapp +447305294773 . The only Game of Thrones film locations in Scotland is Doune Castle .

Eilean Donan Castle is a stunning Highlands castle with a long and torrid history .

Eilean Donan Castle tours from Edinburgh are available 7 days a week.

Film location

The castle has featured in a number of films and TV series . The castle starred in an episode of the Avengers ( the sixties TV series, not the science fiction blockbuster ), in which Joanna Lumley made her debut as Purdy.
The castle was a location for the cult classic film Highlander (1986 ) Eilean Donan is the castle of the Clan Macleod , home to the Immortal Connor Macleod . Ramirez ( Sean Connery ) is Connor’s guide to the Highlands . In the James Bond movie the World is not Enough ( 1999) the castle is the Scottish HQ for MI6 . Bond is seen driving his Aston Martin DB5 over the bridge to the castle . In the film Loch Ness ( 1996 ) the castle was used as Urquhart Castle ( actually sited on the shores of Loch Ness ) . In Bonnie prince Charlie ( 1948 ) David Niven plays the Jacobite prince . The Master of Ballantrae ( 1953 ) starred Errol Flynn . The Bollywood blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ( 1998) was filmed outside the castle .

History of the castle

The castle was originally built in 1220 . In 1719 it was destroyed by 3 English frigates and it laid in ruins for nearly 200 years. In 1911 John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the castle and rebuilt it over a period of twenty years .

 

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Outlander Blood of my Blood filming  began filming at Doune Castle in Scotland and it was completed in June. Outlander fans in the US , UK and around the world are getting excited about seeing the second half of season 7 this year and season 8 , the final season next year .

Crown castles tour Scotland. Season six of the Crown featuring St Andrews is on Netflix.

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Private tours of    Lallybroch and Outlander , Glencoe and the Highlands , Eilean Donan Castle ,  St Andrews ,  the Kelpies in Falkirk , Game of Thrones and Doune Castle  .

Your driver / guide is David Rankin  , a photographer  with 20 years experience  and a tour guide for 6 years . David has extensive knowledge of the top locations in Scotland for a wide range of tours to castles ,  the Highlands and film locations including Outlander and Game of Thrones   . Please phone / text / Whatsapp him on +447305294773 or contact us online 

 

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Explore Westeros with our Doune Castle Game of Thrones Tour, an unforgettable experience that transports you to the iconic locations featured in the globally renowned TV series.

Outlander prequel Blood of my Blood could premiere this year .

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What Scottish castles are open to tour ?

These castles have provided the backdrops for bloody battles or famous films, and are the most popular castles in Scotland

Stirling Castle.
Midhope Castle.
Blackness Castle.
Doune Castle.

Was any of Braveheart filmed in Scotland?

Mel Gibson decided to direct the film, as well as star as Wallace. Braveheart was filmed in Scotland and Ireland from June to October 1994. Book your Braveheart tour online

Is there a real Lallybroch ?

Yes, Midhope Castle is the real life location for Lallybroch , the ancestral home of Jamie Fraser . You can visit Lallybroch on our unique Outlander tours  . Lallybroch, or Broch Tuarach, is Jamie’s fictional home in the series.
Outlander tours from Edinburgh can be booked online . In real life it’s an ancient 16th-century tower house outside Edinburgh. The castle stars in a number of Outlander episodes as the ancestral home of Jamie Fraser , played by Scottish actor Sam Heughan . You can visit the castle on one of our tours and take a look around the outside . Unfortunately the inside of Lallybroch is derelict and not accessible at the moment  , although plans have been announced to build accommodation inside the castle . Lallybroch Outlander tours from Private tours Edinburgh

what does Broch Tuarach mean ?

What is Broch Tuarach ? And can you take a tour to it ? It is an old  broch on the land, Broch Tuarach means “north-facing tower” in Gaelic. Lallybroch, as the estate is known among those who live there, in turn means “lazy tower”. Lallybroch , ancestral home of Jamie Fraser , is also known as Broch Tuarach . 
Broch Tuarach tours  can be booked online . For last minute bookings phone / Whatsapp us on  +447305-294773


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