Doune Castle

Its a nice castle, plenty of history but for the cost not really value its only the price of a fish supper to get in, but the fish supper will last you longer,
yeah its featured in monty python but other than that i am Doune talking about it

I loved it.
The history, the cinematic history… I’m not a big Monty Python fan but this made me one! Also from Game of Thrones and Outlander.
It is BEAUTIFULLY maintained. Wow. So great. I know this is funny but one of my favorite parts was the «toilet.» I always wondered how that worked and not only was it in great conditioned (well maintained) the historical audio was very informative.
Highly recommend it.

Sometime in 1975…
Guard: Who goes there?
King Arthur: It is I, Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon, from the castle of Camelot. King of the Britons, defeater of the Saxons, Sovereign of all England!
Guard: Pull the other one!
King Arthur: I am, and this is my trusty servant Patsy. We have ridden the length and breadth of the land in search of knights who will join me in my court at Camelot. I must speak with your lord and master.
Guard: What? Ridden on a horse?
King Arthur: Yes!
Guard: You’re using coconuts!
King Arthur: What?
Guard: You’ve got two empty halves of coconut and you’re bangin’ ‘em together.
King Arthur: So? We have ridden since the snows of winter covered this land, through the kingdom of Mercia, through…
Guard: Where’d you get the coconuts?
King Arthur: We found them.
Guard: Found them? In Mercia?! The coconut’s tropical!
King Arthur: What do you mean?
Guard: Well, this is a temperate zone.
King Arthur: The swallow may fly south with the sun or the house martin or the plover may seek warmer climes in winter, yet these are not strangers to our land?
Guard: Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?
King Arthur: Not at all. They could be carried.
1^st soldier with a keen interest in birds: What? A swallow carrying a coconut?
King Arthur: It could grip it by the husk!
Guard: It’s not a question of where he grips it! It’s a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.
King Arthur: Well, it doesn’t matter. Will you go and tell your master that Arthur from the Court of Camelot is here?
Guard: Listen. In order to maintain air-​speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-​three times every second, right?
£5.50 was well worth it see the castle used in Monty Python’s Holy Grail, Outlander’ s Castle Leoch, and Game of Thrones’ Winterfell.

We stopped here for just a quick 15 minute stop enroute to Fort William so I didn’t go inside or take the audio tour. The 15 mins was just enough time to take a walk around the castle and check out its grounds. The view at the back overlooks a river and a beautiful wilderness with lots of wildflower in a small meadow which tapers down to the river. (Disclaimer: the above description is of when I visited in late July, so your view /​experience would obviously be different, depending on when you visit).
Architecturally, this castle reminded me of Blarney castle, although this one looked better preserved, but it didn’t have any poison gardens like Blarney did. The main claim for fame for this castle is that its been used as the location for Winterfell (Game of Thrones), Outlander and also Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Oh, also good for the ladies loo but the lines were super long when I was there!

Impressively well-​preserved medieval castle, but don’t expect fireworks inside!
This castle is part of many 1-​day coach tours from Edinburgh (mine was by Timberbush Tours), so getting there shouldn’t normally be a problem. The castle itself is amazingly well-​preserved as far as its outer walls, towers and rooms are concerned.
What you shouldn’t expect is a lot of original furniture *inside* the various rooms. There isn’t. Almost any. So don’t come here expecting something like the state rooms of Alnwick Castle. After all, Doune is a good deal older, and it was fortress, not a palace. Everything is rather small/​narrow, with high walls for defense.
From the tower you’ll get a great view of the surrounding woodlands/​villages, and of course the green area around the castle invites forest walks. The entrance fee is modest (UKP 5.50, which seems to be standard for smaller or roofless or furniture-​deprived castles/​palaces), and there’s a small shop.
Expect to spend around 40 minutes at this attraction. Maybe an hour if you feel like walking around the woodlands. Simultaneous bus groups visiting aren’t an anomaly.

This castle was amazing! All the people who worked there were very nice and friendly to us. The castle was kept just as it was found and was purposely not renovated which I think was very cool. You could really see how the castle was when the people who lived there where there without being distracted by lights and re constructions. You could really see the true castle which was very interesting. They allowed you to go up and around and in every crevice of the castle and see how the people lived. I really recommend if you are looking for the true bare to the bone feel of a castle. Go and you won’t regret it.

If you’re a fan of the movie «Monty Python’s Holy Grail» you have to go here if at all possible. All the castle scenes, except for the Castle Arrgh (Stalker) down the road, were filmed here. Be sure to study the film scenes before you go though as none of the sites are marked.

Great little tour and the audio guide is free with every tour. Interesting history both old and recent. Want to go back and watch minty python now

Doune was the first castle we came to on our drive around Loch Lomond. It was impressive to see, but we opted out of the £5.50 tour and decided to save our money for Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle instead. It’s a good spot f or a selfie or two if nothing else. Interestingly, this is also the castle from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. If you’re driving around the Loch, it’s worth going to see, but don’t go out of your way.

I think the other reviews will be helpful, I was gaga to stand where the French soldiers taunted King Arthur, let alone to see the room where the virgins were dancing. The view from the top? Stunning. Stunning. We don’t do Buckingham type castles, but prefer the ruins. This was a must see, period.

Monty Python!
I was told we were going to the William Wallace monument. I could see it from Stirling Castle. When I was told we would have to park at the bottom and then walk up, I think I made a face. That face was the tipping point in for our Bride-​Guide to decide that we weren’t going to go there. Instead we decided to come here.
It’s free with your Explorer Pass. They have a tiny shop where you scan your pass and pick up your audio guide. Press all the extra buttons when they tell you… while the history of the castle is good, the Monty Python bits are better. My husband spent most of his time not listening to the audio guide and taking photos. You can take photos all over the place here. We stood in the fireplaces, sat in the great room, and took in the views from the roof top.
When we were leaving, a big orange bus pulled up. It was the «The Hairy Coo» tour bus. I heard about them from a friend, but made no motions to find out anything more about them because I was traveling by way of my friend’s family van. This would be a good way to get here if you don’t have the option of a private chauffeur.

This is where they filmed the Monty Python and scenes with Winterfell for Game of Thrones! So cool, right?!
But that’s not the best part. The best part is the VIEW from the top of the castle. It was the best view I’d ever seen in my life. Nothing but stretches of green grass, sheep, hairy coo, rolling hills, sparkling river, and dramatic stand alone trees in the distance. It was like something straight out of a fairy tale. I will always remember the view here because it put such a smile on my face and that feeling of awe.
Be careful of the climb though. Steps are steep and small! People were not very big back then and this castle is of course, old. So get a careful grip and watch were you’re going lest you want to pull a Bran.
Like most castles, they charge a fee for you to go in and explore. Well worth it though in my opinion! You won’t get a better view. Plus if you want to learn some wonderful history, there’s also an audio tour. Listen and you’ll learn quite a lot of interesting facts about castle life back then!

Simply amazing. The staff was kind and friendly. The audio tour was fun with it’s Monty Python twist, and the castle left me wanting more. This place is a treasure and I’m glad I got a chance to see it. Definately worth every pound!

I really like this castle. NTFS have really put time and effort into producing a great experience. Love the Monty Python audio guide!

Doune Castle is situated in Doune (supprisingly) near Stirling.
Lovely castle, well preserved and sympatheticly reovated.
The castle is built in a square with a courtyard in the middle.
Famous for it’s appearance in Monty Phython and the Holy Grail.
When we went to visit the chap asked us if we were Phython fans, when we replied in the affermitive he promptly produced two halves of coconuts and started hitting them together. We found this amusing.
The castle is set in lovely grounds and it is well worth taking in a walk of them as part of your visit.

Somewhere that others eem to have forgotten. People pass this on the way to Callander which has nothing in it really apart from water and lots n lots of tourists. A real gem

I agree — one of the best castles to visit in Scotland. When I was last there they hadn’t filed The Holy Grail, but I wouldn’t think the cstle has changed much!

Doune Castle is a Large Square Keep with surrounded by woodland and farms, located at outskirts of Doune, near Dunblane. Most people will recognise it as the castle which housed the French Garrison in Monty Python & the Holy Grail and was unsuccessfully besieged, due to the catapulting of cows, chickens etc. Has Monty Python re-​enactments every year with kids costume competitions and readings from the script.
(Free entry with a Historic Scotland Pass)

The castle is fabulous. Don’t forget to take a walk further down beside the River Teith (great salmon fishing river, you can get a permit and fish it further north in Callander). We have seen kingfishers and otters here.

Definitely one of my favourite castles in Scotland. I was there as a child and then I didn’t know about Monty Python and any Holy Grails :-)