Opening times
Open year-round with seasonal hours. Last entry is one hour before closing, and the castle may close at short notice in high winds, snow or ice.
At a glance
Tickets
Paid admission. Tickets are available online or at the kiosk, card payments only. Check the official booking page for current prices.
Entry type
Paid admission; buy online or at the card-only kiosk
Address
Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire AB39 2TL
Parking and access
Free parking is available near the approach, including two Blue Badge spaces. The castle is still reached by a rough path and extensive steps.
Visit length
1½–2½ hours
Opening check
Opening follows seasonal hours and last entry is one hour before closing. Check for weather closures before travelling.
Parking
Toilets
Benches Inside The Castle
Blue Badge Parking
Free Parking
Refreshments Beside The Car Park
Why visit
Choose Dunnottar for the clifftop setting, sea views and the experience of exploring substantial ruins. The route feels adventurous, but the steps, exposure and uneven surfaces make it a much more physical castle visit than many alternatives.
Steps
The approach includes 180 concrete steps and 38 uneven steps before the entrance, then 17 steps to the kiosk and 48 further steps inside.
Access
There are no lifts or ramps and wheelchair access is not possible. Pushchairs, prams and luggage cannot be stored.
Weather
High winds, snow or ice can close the castle. Check the live notice on the day.
Can your family manage the route?
This is the question to answer before booking. The clifftop viewpoint can be reached without entering, but the paid castle visit requires a long descent and ascent with hundreds of steps in total.
There is no wheelchair route and nowhere to leave a pushchair or luggage. Younger children need close supervision, especially on uneven ground and exposed sections.
What the visit feels like
Dunnottar is a ruin rather than a furnished castle. Families explore roofless buildings, passages and open ground while the sea and cliffs provide much of the drama.
The route is mostly outdoors, with low light in some interior spaces. Benches inside give useful pauses before tackling the return climb.
Weather, food and facilities
Treat the weather as part of the access decision. Wind, snow and ice can force a closure, while rain makes the earth and grass surfaces harder going.
Use the toilets after entering the paid grounds and buy refreshments near the car park before or after the visit, as there is no food service inside the castle.
Plan your visit
Map
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Nearby stop
Aberdeen Science Centre
A hands-on indoor alternative in the wider Aberdeen area when weather or mobility makes the castle route unsuitable.
Nearby stop
Duthie Park & David Welch Winter Gardens
A gentler Aberdeen-area option with park space and indoor glasshouses for families avoiding a heavily stepped visit.