Dornie

United_Kingdom

Dornie is a village in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands. It's on A87 the main road to Skye, and is virtually a compulsory photo stop for Eilean Donan Castle perched on an islet.

The village is at the foot of Loch Long where it joins the broader Loch Duich; Loch Long was first bridged in 1940 and the present bridge opened in 1990. The ancient ferry continued in sporadic use to cross Loch Duich to Totaig on the other bank, but this didn't last. Appropriately then, the bagpipe tune Dornie Ferry is a "Strathspey", a slow, rather melancholy, back-and-forth dance tune.

Eilean Donan Castle as seen from the north

  • Eilean Donan Castle, +44 1599 555202. Daily, Nov-Mar 10:00-16:00, Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00 (from 09:00 Jul-Aug). The original Donan was a 7th C saint and martyr, and there's been some kind of settlement here since ancient times. The main incarnation of the castle was from the 13th C, a redoubt of Clan Mackenzie, and was much bashed-about but survived until 18th C. After the 1715 Jacobite rebellion failed a further uprising was attempted in 1719 but never got started, but some Spanish troops and other rebels holed up in the castle. Three navy ships arrived to negotiate their surrender, but the landing boat was fired upon while under flag of truce. Big mistake: when the ships departed three days later, the castle was rubble and the surviving rebels were in shackles below deck. It remained ruined until the 20th C when it was restored as an "ideal" castle, and joined to the mainland by the stone bridge. It opened to the public in 1955 and has been a popular film-location ever since. Adult £10, child £6.
  • Caisteal Grugaig.: the lane west from Shiel Bridge divides, drive straight on to go over the hills to Glenelg (for the Kylerhea ferry) and Corran. The right-turn branch keeps to the lochside, passing through Ratagan and Letterfearn to the end of the public road at Totaig. Near here is the iron age broch of Caisteal Grugaig, 16.5 x 9.6 m in extent. It's not to be confused with Dun Grugaig, one of the three brochs near Glenelg.

Eilean Donan Castle, +44 1599 555202. Daily, Nov-Mar 10:00-16:00, Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00 (from 09:00 Jul-Aug). The original Donan was a 7th C saint and martyr, and there's been some kind of settlement here since ancient times. The main incarnation of the castle was from the 13th C, a redoubt of Clan Mackenzie, and was much bashed-about but survived until 18th C. After the 1715 Jacobite rebellion failed a further uprising was attempted in 1719 but never got started, but some Spanish troops and other rebels holed up in the castle. Three navy ships arrived to negotiate their surrender, but the landing boat was fired upon while under flag of truce. Big mistake: when the ships departed three days later, the castle was rubble and the surviving rebels were in shackles below deck. It remained ruined until the 20th C when it was restored as an "ideal" castle, and joined to the mainland by the stone bridge. It opened to the public in 1955 and has been a popular film-location ever since. Adult £10, child £6.

Caisteal Grugaig.: the lane west from Shiel Bridge divides, drive straight on to go over the hills to [[Glenelg]] (for the Kylerhea ferry) and Corran. The right-turn branch keeps to the lochside, passing through Ratagan and Letterfearn to the end of the public road at Totaig. Near here is the iron age broch of Caisteal Grugaig, 16.5 x 9.6 m in extent. It's not to be confused with Dun Grugaig, one of the three brochs near Glenelg.

Go hiking and hill-walking - this is an excellent area for walking, see Walkhighlands (Kintail and Lochalsh) walks for suggested routes. There are thirty-some "Munroes" in the area.

  • Dornie Stores, 3 Francis St IV40 8EJ, +44 1599 555219. M-F 07:30-18:00, Sa 07:30-16:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Convenience store and post office.

Dornie Stores, 3 Francis St IV40 8EJ, +44 1599 555219. M-F 07:30-18:00, Sa 07:30-16:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Convenience store and post office.

  • The Clachan, 13 Francis Street, Dornie IV40 8DT, +44 1599 55536. Apr-Oct M-Th 16:30-23:00, F Sa 16:30-00:00. Village pub and restaurant, try the langoustines. Closed in winter.
  • There's also a cafe at the castle Visitor Centre, land-side of the bridge to the islet.

The Clachan, 13 Francis Street, Dornie IV40 8DT, +44 1599 55536. Apr-Oct M-Th 16:30-23:00, F Sa 16:30-00:00. Village pub and restaurant, try the langoustines. Closed in winter.

  • See "Eat" and "sleep" options.

[[Plockton]] — pretty village, which makes an easy day trip on the train from [[Kyle of Lochalsh]].