What an interesting place to visit, we originally decided to go as my wife is an Outlander fan & myself love Monty Python. We had an audio guide which gave us plenty of info of the history of Doune, it was well maintained & there was also plenty of work going on, & we both thought it very atmospheric. Afterwards we took a stroll along the River Teith behind the castle very pleasant too.

Well presented Medieval Castle which is worth a visit for this alone. Very helpful staff who seemed to know every nook and cranny of the place. Monty Python fans like myself found it particularly good. An audio guide narrated by one of the Python team with reference to famous sketches in the relevant rooms used in the Holy Grail. Outlander references here too as the castle also had a starring role in this TV series There is an adjacent car park and toilets and a shop. No cafe, but the nearby village of Doune had some excellent eateries.

This was a last minute addition to our driving tour of Scotland. So glad we chose to add this to our itinerary! I had no idea that this was the castle that was used in season 1 of Outlander; or that they filmed Monty Python here. I loved the addition audio guide tour of the Outlander series narrated by Sam Heughan. Especially glad to be an English Heritage member (which meant that this was free for us). I recommend taking advantage of the free car park and taking the circular walk.

Doune Castle gained widespread recognition as the primary filming location for the classic comedy film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" in 1975. The castle served as the backdrop for various iconic scenes, including the French castle and Camelot. Doune Castle served as one of the filming locations for Winterfell, the ancestral home of House Stark. The castle's exterior was used to depict Winterfell in the unaired pilot episode of Game of Thrones. One of the highlights of Doune Castle is its well-preserved Great Hall. The hall, with its impressive hammerbeam roof and large fireplace, provides a glimpse into medieval banquets and gatherings.We all explored different parts of the castles since we were limited on time doing a guide van tour across Scotland. You can check out the full video of this tour on Mr.S Travel Quest YouTube channel. -Mr.S Travel Quest

Fun stop for a place that has been featured in countless shows and films! We did enjoy walking around to see the interior, as it is an unvarnished look as to how castles were lived in at the time, and you can liberally sit in and touch parts of the castle. Not sure I would travel the hour+ from Edinburgh just to see this castle, but certainly would stop in en route elsewhere.

I’ve wanted to visit since Outlander, was closed 2 years ago for renovation/safety. They are still carrying out work. Was not busy which for me was great. Smaller than what I expected but still a castle nonetheless. What made it extra special for me was listening to Sam aka Jamie Fraser on audio explaining were the filming etc took place , definitely worth visiting.

So sorry for getting around to a review almost a year after our visit. Beyond interesting site, both historically and in relation to film locations. Being a Monty Python fan, I was especially delighted with that portion of the audio tour. The staff were kind and helpful, tolerant and amused at my snorting and doubling over with laughter during the Holy Grail commentary. Truly a wonderful site. Be sure to walk down to the river, as well.

I've visited Doune Castle twice within the past six years and will certainly go back the next time I'm in Scotland. I like Doune because it helps you visualize what living in castle was like for a nobleman and his family. The audio guide, narrated by the late Terry Jones of Monty Python, does an outstanding job explaining the different rooms and how life was like in the castle. Jones and Sam Heughan, of Outlander, do great jobs on the audio guide informing you of the movies and shows that were filmed in and at Doune Castle as well. The interior is well preserved, minus the tapestries, etc., that would have made the castle a nice place to live. After visiting the castle, stroll along the river behind it. It's just a nice stroll. Another thing I like about Doune Castle is that's near other sites. Located within 15 minutes from Stirling Castle, which means you can easily see both castles on the same day. We visited Stirling, Doune, and Glasgow in the same day and had plenty of time in all three locations (only toured the outdoor sites of Glasgow and had dinner). While parking is tight, you don't have to wait long for a space to open up if there isn't one already available. I'd rather have tight parking than a huge parking lot that detracts from the charm and Aesthetics of the site.

We chose this castle to visit because it was on our way to Glencoe. I didn’t realize at the time that it was used for Outlander or Monty Python, but I was so happy to find that out!! We stopped by with no tickets, but the people there were happy to help us with that. Everyone working there was so very nice. It wasn’t busy so we mostly got to explore by ourselves. They have audio guides that you can use to learn about the castle as you go. A few are voiced by Sam Heugan and the rest are by one of the guys from Monty Python. It was very interesting to learn about, and the castle was so neat!! We ended up spending waaaaay too much in the gift shop, lol, but I’m excited to take back all of the mementos.

Brilliant castle with the best audio tour I’ve ever heard (free, and voiced by Terry Jones and Sam Heughan). Really educational and engaging for all ages (we were two adults and kids 9&11 and all enjoyed our tour). The castle is a really great mixture of ruin, preserved and restored areas and, although quite small, well worth seeing. The ‘Outlander’ and ‘Monty Python’ elements were nicely included without overwhelming the history. Must also mention the castle staff, who were all incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and engaging - even those standing out in the car park in the rain. The village of Doune is absolutely beautiful - very glad we braved the downpour to walk into town to a lovely cafe (Buttercup Cafe - great coffee and cake) via the picturesque Old Mill bridge.