It is an ideal site for a fortress because of its prominent views of the surrounding approaches, and it is surrounded on three sides by the deep waters of the Loch. The impressive ruins lie on a rocky promontory on the northern banks of Loch Ness..
Most of the existing buildings date from the 14th century and include the Grant Tower (16th century), the best preserved part of the complex
Magnificently sited and overlooking Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle is one of the largest castles in Scotland with a long and colorful history.
Now a beautifully haunting ruin, surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the Highlands, Urquhart Castle is today one of the most evocative images to behold. Along with tales of the Loch Ness Monster, this makes the site one of the most visited places in the Highlands . It was built in the 1230's, seized by the English in 1296, sacked by the MacDonald Lord of the Isles in 1545 and left to fall into decay after 1689