Lochleven Castle
BEST FOR
Ages 7-15
ENTRY
from £6
WHERE
Kinross
What it’s like
A boat ride out to a ruined island castle, with towers and old stairs to explore once you land.
You don't just walk into this one, you get a boat there. The pier is on the mainland, the castle sits on its own island in the loch, and that crossing alone will do more for a child's attention span than most castle car parks manage. You need to be at the pier fifteen minutes before your sailing for the safety demonstration, so don't cut it fine. Once you're across there's a proper ruin to explore, towers and old stone stairs included.
Boat seats are limited, so book online in advance rather than turning up and hoping. It also works out cheaper than paying on the day: adults are £10 online against a child ticket at £6, with a concession rate too, and the in-person child price nudges up to £6.50.
It's a fair-weather trip in more ways than one. The castle only opens April to October, and even in season the boat crossing can get trickier if the water or weather turns rough. There's no running water in the island toilets either, which is an odd thing to plan around but there it is. The mainland car park is large, level gravel and just 90 metres from the pier, so getting everyone and their coats down to the boat isn't a trek.
Worth flagging if anyone in your group has limited mobility: the boat isn't equipped for wheelchairs, and the towers are reached through narrow doorways and up an open-tread wooden staircase. Up to two carers go free per transaction, which helps if you need someone along to manage the stairs and the boat.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 7 to 15, with narrow towers and stairs older kids handle better
- Booking
- Book online in advance to guarantee entry and best ticket prices
- Parking
- Large, level gravel car park 90m from mainland pier
- Wheelchairs
- Up to 2 carers per transaction receive free entry
- Dogs
- No dogs except assistance dogs
- Arrive fifteen minutes before your boat time for the safety demonstration, they mean it.
- Booking online is cheaper than paying at the pier, by 50p on a child ticket.
- Up to two carers per transaction get in free if you're travelling with someone who needs support.
- No dogs except assistance dogs.
- Picnic area on site if you fancy eating after the crossing rather than before.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£10 for an adult online, £6 for a child aged 7 to 15, £8 concession. Book on the day in person and the child ticket is £6.50 instead.
Do we need to book?
Book online in advance if you want to guarantee a seat on the boat, and you can do it up until midnight the night before. Turning up and hoping is a gamble because boat seats are limited.
How do we actually get to the castle?
Boats leave from the pier at the end of Sandport Close. Get there fifteen minutes before your sailing time for the safety demonstration, they won't let you skip it.
Is it open all year?
No, it closes from 1 November to 31 March. In season it's open daily, 10am to 4.30pm April to September and 10am to 3pm in October.
Is it suitable for a wheelchair user?
The boat itself isn't equipped for wheelchairs, and water levels or bad weather can make the crossing harder still. On the island the visitor centre has step-free access over gravel, but the towers have narrow doorways and an open-tread staircase.
Is there parking?
A large level gravel car park about 90 metres from the pier, no charge stated.
Can we bring the dog?
Only assistance dogs are allowed.
Are there toilets on the island?
There are, but they're down a slippery slope and have no running water. There's an accessible toilet in the mainland car park from April to October.
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