Dumbarton Castle
Visit a stronghold that stood at the heart of an ancient kingdom covering the area now known as Strathclyde.
Visit a stronghold that stood at the heart of an ancient kingdom covering the area now known as Strathclyde.
Conquer more than 500 steps to stand atop one of Scotland’s greatest strongholds - Dumbarton Castle.
The iconic Rock of the Clyde has heritage as breath-taking as its views over the Clyde, Loch Lomond and Argyll.
Dumbarton was a centre of power in what later became the Kingdom of Strathclyde. It was later sacked by Vikings. The castle became a cornerstone of medieval royal power and latterly served as a military base and prison.
You can explore its many fortifications with our interactive family trail.
Opening hours:
We recommend booking online in advance to guarantee entry.
1 Apr to 10 May:
Daily except Thur & Fri, 9.30am to 5pm (last entry 4.15pm).
11 May to 30 Sept:
Daily, 9.30am to 5pm (last entry 4.15pm).
1 Oct to 31 Mar:
Daily except Thur & Fri, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3pm).
Price:
Adult (16-64yrs) £7.50
Concession (65yrs+ and unemployed) £6.00
Child (7-15yrs) £4.50
Family (1 adult, 2 children) £15.00
Family (2 adults, 2 children) £21.50
Family (2 adults, 3 children) £25.50
Free for Historic Scotland members
*There are 547 steps throughout the castle making the property unsuitable for visitors using wheelchairs or with limited mobility.
Very occasionally a property has to close at short notice due to adverse weather conditions or other reasons outwith our control. Please check our closure page for any unexpected site closures historicenvironment.scot/closures You can also follow closure tweets from @welovehistory using #hsclosure. Alternatively please call the site before setting off to check they are open.