Inveraray Castle — Attraction in Scotland

This is an absolutely stunning, awesome and sensational Castle to visit and one of the most beautiful and picturesque in Scotland but also the UK and the fabulous setting of Loch Fyne just adds to it. The Castle is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll and has been for generations of the Campbell Family who have a rich history. The architecture of the Castle is just simply jaw droppingly stunning and amazing with the pale bluey grey stone is best aspect an blends in well with the rugged picturesque landscape and another great aspect of the Castle it does not look like your usual and looks more in a Chateau style, which is great. The Castle on the inside is just as outstanding and Sensational as it is on the outside and there are a number of rooms to see including The Ground Floor, Basement & First Floor with a number of beautiful rooms including The Armoury Hall, State Dining Room, Entrance Hall, Tapestry Drawing Room, North West Hall, The Saloon, China Turret, The Gallery, The Victorian Room, Macarthur Room, The Picture Turret and The Old Kitchen and all of the rooms have stunning wallpaper, paintings and furniture which showcase the grandeur and splendour of the Castle in an astoundingly brilliant and beautiful way. The best of the room has to be The Armoury Hall as all the Swords, Guns and other Armour blend in wonderfully well with the Yellow Paintwork, The Tapestry Drawing Room as The Tapestries and Furniture weave well to give that wonderful regal and opulent look about it and The Macarthur Room as the Four Poster Bed is brilliantly presented and is in amazing condition. The gardens themselves deserve absolute National acclaim as they are simply one of the best in Scotland as the array of colour is just outstanding and jaw droppingly beautiful and picturesque and the best of the displays comes from the dazzlingly stunning displays of Rhodenderons and Azaleas along with the Camelia as there is a lovely display of different colours, which blend in wonderfully well with the other. The pale bluey grey architecture of the Castle together with the dazzling diverse colours from the Rhodenderons and Azaleas makes it a very fine beautifully picturesque look and one of the finest around in the UK. There are some wonderful woodland estate walks where you can see the beautiful woodland around you and also enjoy spectacular breathtaking views of the River that flows through the estate. There is a wonderfully picturesque but very challenging walk up to Dun Na Cuaiche, which is approx. 3 miles away from the Castle and there is a lovely charmkng obelisk once you reach the top but reaching the summit is extremely well worth it as you will enjoy one of the best views in Argyll and Bute with spectacular picturesque views across Loch Fyne. There is a cafe on site selling a variety of refreshments at very reasonable prices and also a gift shop selling a wonderful range of souvenirs at affordable reasonable prices. Overall this is a spectacular and simply fabulous place to visit which makes for an exceptional and enjoyable day out. Well worth a visit whilst in the area...

Inveraray Castle, located on the picturesque shores of Loch Fyne in western Scotland, stands as one of the country’s most iconic stately homes. Its origins trace back to the 15th century, but the castle as it appears today was largely constructed in the mid-18th century, inspired by a design from Sir John Vanbrugh, who also designed Blenheim Palace.

The project was realized by architects Roger Morris and William Adam, with completion overseen by Adam’s sons after both original architects passed away. The result is a striking blend of Baroque, Palladian, and Gothic Revival styles, making Inveraray Castle one of the earliest and finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Britain.

The castle’s exterior is instantly recognizable for its fairytale-like appearance, with four prominent conical spires topping the corner towers. These features, along with additional floors and dormer windows, were added following a major fire in 1877, which led to significant restoration and enhancement of the structure. The setting is equally enchanting.

The castle is surrounded by 16 acres of beautifully maintained gardens, featuring a variety of trees and flowers, and is set against a backdrop of wooded hills and sweeping meadows. The grounds extend far beyond the formal gardens, offering visitors expansive views and tranquil walks.

Inside, Inveraray Castle is richly decorated and furnished, reflecting the long and illustrious history of the Campbell clan, whose chiefs, the Dukes of Argyll, have called the castle home since the 18th century. Highlights include the soaring Armoury Hall, which boasts the highest ceiling in Scotland at 21 meters, and is adorned with elaborate displays of historic weaponry.

Other notable rooms open to the public include the original kitchens, a grand dining room, the tapestry room, and various galleries filled with art, sculptures, and family heirlooms.

Visitors consistently remark on the castle’s impressive collection of historical artifacts and the knowledgeable guides who bring the history of the castle and its inhabitants to life.

While the castle does not have the scale of the great royal palaces, its charm lies in its authentic atmosphere, fascinating clan history, and the sense of living heritage, as it remains the private residence of the current Duke of Argyll and his family.

The castle’s tearoom receives mixed reviews, with some guests finding it underwhelming compared to the rest of the experience. However, the overall consensus is that Inveraray Castle is a must-see destination for those interested in Scottish history, architecture, and scenic beauty.

The combination of its unique architectural style, well-preserved interiors, and stunning natural surroundings make it a memorable highlight of any visit...

Really disappointed with our visit and with being members of the NTS and previously Historic Scotland we have visited many historical places and homes over last 25 years. After travelling up from Glasgow the first thing we wanted to do was have some lunch but we were met with chaos at the cafe which is obviously too small and understaffed for the number of visitors.

There was a queue outside the front door standing in the pouring rain and the layout as you go into the cafe was confusing as to wether it was self service as regards certain items or wether it was all carried out by the staff. Furthermore the layout leads to queuing at the door.

Then there were only two staff serving with one being fully engaged in making hot beverages which added to the delay. However the chaos didn’t end there because when we did reach one of the serving staff with tray in hand we were told that were no seats available and that we could wait with a growing number of people with no organised system to determine who was first or that we could have takeaways to stand in the pouring rain.

We decided to walk in the rain into the town for lunch for what turned out to be an extremely nice experience before heading back to the castle for our timed visit. The rooms on show were indeed beautiful but sparse in numbers for the cost of the tickets and our walk through was over in around 30mins. The feeling that came across and from the staff was that the paying public were a necessary inconvenience which is not something we have experienced before from places like Hopetoun House,...