Scotland is full of castles. We could spend years here and never get around to seeing them all. And the ones we have seen (much like churches in Italy) start to blend together in our memories so we’re not sure what was where. Doune Castle, however, stands out from the castley crowd.
Built in the 1400s, Doune Castle‘s modern-day claim to fame is having served as a set for much of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The audio does a splendid job of bringing to life both the castle’s early history and the joys of being on a Monty Python set. I’ll take narration by Terry Jones over reading information plaques any day.
The castle is well-preserved, and it’s easy to get a feel for how the rooms were used.
The views from the castle are charming, and there’s a bit of hiking to be done in the area.
When we visited Doune Castle, it was set up for filming as well – this time as a set for the TV series Outlander. Early signs suggest the show’s fans are as hard-core as Monty Python’s.
Planning a visit to Doune Castle? For opening times, entrance prices, and the like, visit Historic Scotland’s website. Don’t forget the coconuts.