Doune Castle is a fine example of a Scottish Castle, a foreboding tower house and grim battlements dating back to the 14th Century built on the edges of a river.
Situated next to the market town of Doune, a picturesque old village with some distinctive architecture, Castle Doune is strategically placed between Stirling and the Highlands along the shores of the river Teith. The castle was built in the 14th Century for the Duke of Albany and was a basic residence, a simple courtyard castle but secure.
Doune Castle
The entrance to the castle is through a tiny and easily defendable doorway through the gatehouse. This would have had solid wooden doors, an iron yett or gate and a portcullis that was operated from the Dukes own lodgings, clearly a man of hands on management. The Great Hall, Albany's Hall and the Countesses Hall are all largely intact, impressive features are the beamed roof of the Great Hall and it's hand carved pew and the splendid musicians gallery in the Laird's hall.
Though the history of the Dukes of Albany are full of intrigue, little of it was played out at this castle, though interestingly during the Jacobite uprising, Doune Castle was held for the Jacobites by Gregor MacGregor, nephew of Rob Roy. In much later years Monty Python came to Doune Castle during the filming of The Holy Grail to shoot the famous scene where the knights are taunted by the French from the castle's high tower.
