Doune Castle

Doune Castle is a castle in Stirling, cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. Read about its history, architecture and gardens, plus how to visit and what's nearby.

About Doune Castle

Doune Castle stands where the Ardoch Burn meets the River Teith, near the village of Doune in Stirling.

It was built in the late 14th century as the stronghold of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, who served as Regent of Scotland.

The great hall and courtyard survive largely intact from his time, giving a rare sense of a single medieval builder's vision.

Historic Environment Scotland cares for the castle today, and visitors can walk the grounds along the river towards the Menteith Hills.

History of Doune Castle

The site was first fortified in the 13th century and damaged during the Wars of Independence before Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, rebuilt it in its present form in the late 14th century. It passed to the crown in 1425 after his son's execution, later became a royal hunting lodge, and by the later 16th century belonged to the Earls of Moray. The castle saw fighting in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and the Jacobite risings, fell into ruin by 1800, and was restored in the 1880s before entering state care.

Architecture of Doune Castle

Doune is a medieval courtyard castle, unusual for surviving largely as built in one late 14th-century campaign, with a great hall, private lord's hall, and kitchen tower still intact around the courtyard.

Worth knowing

The castle has appeared in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Game of Thrones and Outlander.

Gardens & grounds at Doune Castle

The grounds include a woodland walk along the Ardoch Burn.

Plan your visit to Doune Castle

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Places to visit near Doune Castle

Dunblane Cathedral

church 3.3 miles

View Dunblane Cathedral on heritage map

St Blane S Church

church 3.4 miles

View St Blane S Church on heritage map

Stirling Castle

castle 5.8 miles

Visit Stirling Castle View Stirling Castle on heritage map

Kings Knot

historic site 5.9 miles

View Kings Knot on heritage map

Argylls Lodging

historic site 6.0 miles

View Argylls Lodging on heritage map

Historic places nearby

Within 5 miles of Doune Castle there are 2 historic properties, including 2 churchs.

2 Historic Environment Scotland

2 Church

See these 2 sites on the heritage map

Within 10 miles of Doune Castle there are 10 historic properties, including 5 historic sites and 2 churchs.

10 Historic Environment Scotland

5 Historic site

2 Church

1 Historic building

1 Priory

1 Castle

See these 10 sites on the heritage map

Within 20 miles of Doune Castle there are 35 historic properties, including 7 historic sites, 6 archaeological sites and 6 historic buildings, across Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and Historic Houses sites.

27 Historic Environment Scotland

5 National Trust for Scotland

3 Historic Houses

7 Historic site

6 Archaeological site

6 Historic building

6 Castle

5 Church

2 Historic house