Urquhart Castle

Urquhart sits on the Loch Ness and was once one of Scotland's largest castles. It guarded one of the main routes between the Atlantic and North Sea coasts of Scotland. It was a great site of natural defense. The castle has been in ruins for over 200 years. Urquhart is thought to have been a royal castle in the 12th century during the rein of William the Lion. In 1296 Edward the 1st, also known as Longshanks, seized and fortified the castle. In 1297 it was recaptured by the Scots and Andrew de Moray. In 1303 it was taken again by the English. When Robert the Bruce became King of Scotland in 1306 and the castle belonged to Scotland again, Robert the Bruce gave the castle to his nephew, Thomas Randolph. Urquhart Castle changed hands many times in a period of 400 years. In 1912 it was turned over to state for care and stabilization. Restoration began and today Urquhart Castle is a great tourist attraction.