Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds is a heritage site situated 1 mile north of Oban, on the West Coast of Scotland. It is the ancestral home of the Clan MacDougall and a must-see for anyone visiting the Argyll. It is open to visitors April-October with special events taking place year round with children's trails, guided tours and piping taking place regularly. Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds is run by the MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust, a small independent charity, with a strong community focus.
We walked from our guest house to the Castle, learning about the woodland path that would have avoided most of the road after we arrived. But at least we got to walk in on the way back. There is a good-sized car park. An admission kiosk was staffed by a very nice young lady who gave us some tips on where to explore. There is also a food truck with a tasty menu set up with some picnic tables, some under cover. We explored the gardens and grounds first, admiring the plantings and the views. Then a short uphill walk on a dirt path led us to the ruins. Impressive views of Oban harbour greeted us along with a modern Celtic cross. Then we examined as much of the Castle as we could. It was all fascinating, but frustrating not being able to ask questions. After enjoying a restoring cup of tea and a snack, we set off on the path back to Oban which is marked by several unique features of its own.
Great self guided area with plenty of historical examples and willing guides/docent to answer questions. Castle ruins very good viewpoints of surrounding lands. Surrounding gardens also an enjoyable stroll. Cafe on site for light meals a plus.
The combination of the museum in the old house with the garden is lovely. You can also have a good lunch ans buy kids adventure tours. Also on the grass field there are kids plays.
Lovely castle with sturdy ruin, beautiful woods with beaches, oak, walnut, cypress, and a lovely cafe garden with great coffee and cakes! Great view over Oban Bay. Well worth the 20 minutes walk from centre town.
Historic and scenic with a nice museum explaining the history of the castle, now a ruin. If you have any Clan McDougall ancestry or just enjoy medieval Scottish history, there is a lot of information available. Climbing to the top to see the castle is a bit steep but once up there you have amazing panoramic views of Oban and the bay and looking out towards Mull. Worth it just for the views.
The views from up at the castle are so stunning, it is hard to find the words that convey just how fantastic it is. We had the good fortune to have beautiful weather to compliment the scenery. The vastness of the water, where so many waterways meet, show why it was the best place to build this ancient stronghold. You can go inside the castle ruins and go up two floors. The grounds below the castle are gorgeous, with a variety of plants and trees that you can wander around on a looping pathway, with lots of information on the way. You can look around part of the house, some of which is occupied by the current Chief of the MacDougall Clan. It is a museum of artefacts through the ages. There is also a film telling the story of the clan and castle, which was well done and very interesting. We finished our visit with a coffee and piece of homemade cake from the cafe. This place is well worth a visit.
On-site services
Live performances
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Gender-neutral toilets
Restaurant
Toilets
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Family friendly
Good for kids
Free parking lot
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We walked from our guest house to the Castle, learning about the woodland path that would have avoided most of the road after we arrived. But at least we got to walk in on the way back. There is a good-sized car park. An admission kiosk was staffed by a very nice young lady who gave us some tips on where to explore. There is also a food truck with a tasty menu set up with some picnic tables, some under cover. We explored the gardens and grounds first, admiring the plantings and the views. Then a short uphill walk on a dirt path led us to the ruins. Impressive views of Oban harbour greeted us along with a modern Celtic cross. Then we examined as much of the Castle as we could. It was all fascinating, but frustrating not being able to ask questions. After enjoying a restoring cup of tea and a snack, we set off on the path back to Oban which is marked by several unique features of its own.
Great self guided area with plenty of historical examples and willing guides/docent to answer questions. Castle ruins very good viewpoints of surrounding lands. Surrounding gardens also an enjoyable stroll. Cafe on site for light meals a plus.
The combination of the museum in the old house with the garden is lovely. You can also have a good lunch ans buy kids adventure tours. Also on the grass field there are kids plays.
Lovely castle with sturdy ruin, beautiful woods with beaches, oak, walnut, cypress, and a lovely cafe garden with great coffee and cakes! Great view over Oban Bay. Well worth the 20 minutes walk from centre town.
Historic and scenic with a nice museum explaining the history of the castle, now a ruin. If you have any Clan McDougall ancestry or just enjoy medieval Scottish history, there is a lot of information available. Climbing to the top to see the castle is a bit steep but once up there you have amazing panoramic views of Oban and the bay and looking out towards Mull. Worth it just for the views.
The views from up at the castle are so stunning, it is hard to find the words that convey just how fantastic it is. We had the good fortune to have beautiful weather to compliment the scenery. The vastness of the water, where so many waterways meet, show why it was the best place to build this ancient stronghold. You can go inside the castle ruins and go up two floors. The grounds below the castle are gorgeous, with a variety of plants and trees that you can wander around on a looping pathway, with lots of information on the way. You can look around part of the house, some of which is occupied by the current Chief of the MacDougall Clan. It is a museum of artefacts through the ages. There is also a film telling the story of the clan and castle, which was well done and very interesting. We finished our visit with a coffee and piece of homemade cake from the cafe. This place is well worth a visit.
