Accessing Dunollie
Museum, Castle and Grounds
Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds is a historic site with traces of human habitation going back several thousands of years. One of the reasons for this most likely is it is strategic defensive location. Unfortunately for us today, this means some areas might not be accessible to everyone.
Whilst we have tried and continue to try our best to make Dunollie accessible to as many of our visitors as possible, our duty to protect and help conserve this site for future generations to enjoy must come first. This often limits the extent to which we can improve or change the site to suit visitors with mobility issues, especially when it comes to the buildings and the hill on which the castle is situated which are scheduled monuments protected by Historic Environment Scotland.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility, please feel free to get in touch via info@dunollie.org or call 01631 570550 to speak to a member of the team.
Accessible Areas
(including for wheelchair users)
Accessible Parking: Any visitors who require accessible parking are invited to park closer towards the centre of our site. If this applies to you, please start by heading to our visitor car park to check in at the Reception Booth where our receptionist can provide any information you might need and let our team know so that we are expecting you. Once that's done, drive up the private drive and park in the staff car park beside Dunollie House, the clan chief's private residence. There, you will be much closer to the 1745 House Museum, the Kettle Garden Cafe and the more accessible parts of Dunollie's Historic Woodland Grounds.
Accessible Toilets: Accessible toilets are located on the first floor on the 1745 House Museum. If you have any questions please ask our museum stewards or any other members of our team nearby.
The first floor of the 1745 House Museum is accessible, although the entrance is 83cm wide. The Kettle Garden Cafe, the Draper's Shop, the Loom Room and most of our Enchanting Woodland Grounds are too.
Areas which require more mobility
The second floor of the 1745 House Museum, including our temporary exhibition room is only accessible through a flight of stairs. There is a handrail to hold on and the steps are of standard size.
Dunollie's Castle Ruin is the most difficult section of our site to access. It is located at the top of a steep hill which can be slippery, especially upon descent. We ask that our visitors take special care in that area. As of winter 2022, we now have a handrail along the path leading to the castle and have been offering walking sticks to anyone who wishes for several years.
To find out more about the story behind our new castle handrails, click on the button below.
Once on top of the hill stepping into the enclosure of the medieval curtain walls should be simple enough, as is reaching the ground floor of Dunollie Castle. Since 2019, visitors can access a further two floors. Please note however that the steps within Dunollie's Castle Ruin are uneven and can be slippery.
Visiting with a dog
Dogs and other furry friends on a lead are welcome to Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds' outdoor areas. This means they can be walked in our grounds and up to the Castle Ruin but cannot go in the 1745 House Museum, the Draper's Shop and the Loom Room. The Kettle Garden Cafe has outdoor seating where dogs are welcome but we ask that they wait behind whilst their owners step into the building to order any hot drinks or delicious home-baking.