Welcome
Perched atop a 160 foot rock and surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, the dramatic and evocative cliff-top ruins of Dunnottar Castle were once an impregnable fortress of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland.
Steeped in history, this romantic and haunting ruin is a photographer’s paradise, a history lover’s dream and an iconic tourist destination for visitors the world over.

Access with steps
There are steps from the main entrance to:
Castle interior open spaceTicket KioskKioskToilet facility inside CastleThere are steps from the car park to:
Food van picnic area beside car parkVisual
General
Getting here
For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.Travel by public transport
Travel by taxi
Parking
Dunnottar Castle sits on an isolated rock seperated from the mainland and is accessed via steps down from the cliff top. There are over 200 steps from the cliff top to the entrance kiosk located within the Castle.
There is a driveway between the car park and cliff top and in order to improve access for the less able to view the Castle from the cliff top, vehicles are allowed to travel down to the turning circle which is the closest point during the summer season (1st April to 30th September).
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
The main entrance to the Castle is accessed from the cliff top via 180 concrete steps of even construction followed by approx. 40m of earth path and then 38 uneven steps up to the entrance door which remains open during opening hours.

Getting around inside
Ticket/ information desk
Ticket Kiosk
There are 17 uneven steps leading from the entrance door to the ticket kiosk. A number of these are inlaid with pebbles which can be slippery when wet.


Ticket/ information desk
Kiosk
Things to See and Do
Castle interior open space
Public toilet
Toilet facility inside Castle
The toilet facility has 3 cubicles, 2 for women and 1 for men, all are standard sized cubicles.
Getting around outside
Stonehaven to Dunnottar Castle Coastal Path
Picnic Area
Food van picnic area beside car park