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The path through the gateway into the grassy courtyard of Old Inverlochy Castle.
Fort William

Old Inverlochy Castle

A four-towered castle of the 1280s at the mouth of the River Lochy, closed for now for conservation, with parts of the grounds open.

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Welcome

Old Inverlochy Castle stands by the mouth of the River Lochy, just outside Fort William, where the Red Comyns, lords of Badenoch and Lochaber, built it in about 1280.

Much of what you see is theirs: a curtain wall more than three metres thick, a round tower at each corner, a moat on three sides and a gate at either end. Comyn's Tower, at the north-west corner, was the largest, and Inverlochy is among the most complete castles of the 1200s still standing.

From here the castle commands the routes through the Great Glen and Glen Spean, and the river down to Loch Linnhe. In 1431 about 800 clansmen defeated the Earl of Mar's army, which was camped at the castle, and in February 1645 Montrose marched over the mountains to defeat a Covenanting army of 3,000 at Inverlochy. The castle is closed for now for conservation work, but parts of the grounds are open to explore, and you can see the walls through the protective fencing.

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Before you go

The castle is closed for conservation work for now.

Parts of the grounds are open, and the walls can be seen through protective fencing.

Where
By the mouth of the River Lochy, near Fort William, Highland. Ordnance Survey grid reference NN 121 755.
Open
The castle is closed for conservation work for now. Some of the castle grounds are open to explore, and the castle can be viewed through protective fencing.
Parking
Historic Environment Scotland says parking is available.
Getting there
Historic Environment Scotland points to Traveline Scotland for planning a journey by public transport, and to the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust for National Cycle Network routes.

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Did you know

The curtain wall and a round corner tower of Old Inverlochy Castle across the grass.
Did you know

Built about 1280 by the Red Comyns.

They were lords of Badenoch and Lochaber and among the most powerful families in Scotland, and they put the castle here to command the southern end of the Great Glen.

An information board in front of the walls of Old Inverlochy Castle.
Did you know

The walls are more than three metres thick.

They make a square with a round tower at each corner, a moat on three sides and a gate at either end. Comyn's Tower, at the north-west corner, was the largest.

The grassy courtyard and broken walls of Old Inverlochy Castle.
Did you know

Two battles were fought at Inverlochy.

In 1431 an army camped at the castle was surprised and beaten by about 800 clansmen. In February 1645 Montrose marched over the mountains and defeated a Covenanting army of 3,000 at Inverlochy.

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Where it is

By the mouth of the River Lochy, near Fort William.

Close byNear Fort William.
  1. The Highland Soap Company Fort WilliamThe Highland Soap Company Fort WilliamThe Highland Soap Company's visitor centre by Old Inverlochy Castle, with a shop, soap-making workshops and a café.Under a mile 2 min by road
  2. The Great Hall at Inverlochy Castle at night, with glass chandeliers, tall curtained windows, armchairs and a piano.Seasgair by Michel Roux Jr1 mile as the crow flies
  3. Fort WilliamFort WilliamThe town under Ben Nevis at the head of Loch Linnhe, where the West Highland Way ends and the Jacobite leaves.2 miles 4 min by road
  4. The copper stills in the still house at Ben Nevis Distillery, a group of visitors among them.Ben Nevis DistilleryA whisky distillery at Lochy Bridge on the edge of Fort William, founded in 1825, with a visitor centre, coffee shop, tours and tastings.2 miles 4 min by road
  5. Stone perimeter wall with "Historic Area, No Camping, No Fires" sign beside a gravel pathThe Old FortWhat remains of the fort that gave Fort William its name: grassy ramparts and a sally port by Loch Linnhe, and the start of the Great Glen Way.2 miles 4 min by road
  6. Corpach WreckCorpach WreckA rusting fishing boat beached on the shore of Loch Linnhe at Corpach since a storm in 2011, with Ben Nevis behind.18 miles 27 min by road
Directions
Green tent pitched by the shore of a loch flanked by hillsAttractionsNorth West Wilderness Weekend with Thistle Trekking1.5 miles
Bare trees reflected in a still river beside a stone-lined bankWalksEast Highland Way with Thistle Trekking1.5 miles
Walkers pause on a wooden bridge with twisted branch railings amid fernsWalksThe Great Glen Way by Thistle Trekking1.5 miles
Tall pines and mossy ground in a misty forest along the Great Glen.AttractionsThe Great Glen Way1.5 miles
The Jacobite steaming along the West Highland Line beside a river among autumn trees.AttractionsJacobite Steam Train1.7 miles
The front of the Wildcat on Fort William's High Street, its window full of the café.CafeThe Wildcat1.8 miles
Corner building on a cobbled street housing The Highland BookshopShoppingHighland Bookshop1.9 miles
The Lime Tree's stone house with blue windows behind its garden and a great tree, Fort William.RestaurantsLime Tree Hotel2.1 miles
Passengers aboard a blue tour boat crossing a calm loch below green hillsRestaurantsCrannog at Garrison West2.2 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the castle, and when each is next free.

RiverBeds at Woodlands Glencoe
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Ballachulish
  • 11 miles from Inverlochy
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in Fort WilliamAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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