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urquhart castle

Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle (pronounced "urkut") is on the north shore of Loch Ness. Forts have been built at this location for at least the past 4000 years, from the time of Moses.  This castle was built around 1200 AD, and after many wars in which people who lived nearby were killed, it was abandoned in 1692 AD after the Jacobites were defeated in their attempt to put the Stewarts back on the throne.  After the castle was abandoned, nearby homeowners took stones from the castle to build new rooms on their own homes.  The castle has been in ruins ever since, but it is still one of the most beautiful of the Scottish castle ruins. And many Nessie sightings are reported here.

Historic Scotland maintains the ruins and charges admission to see them.  Currently, Historic Scotland plans to enlarge the parking lot, and build a visitors center and restaurant  on the castle grounds.  You can read about the controversy at:

http://www.lochness.co.uk/castle/build/index.html -- save Urquhart castle

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/op_ourproperties_searchdetail?id=90309

Historic Scotland's point of view

http://www.lochness.co.uk/castle/castvote.html -- vote your opinion

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Photo of Urquhart Castle is from Albavision, a company that makes videos of Scotland:

http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/albavision.htm

Lovely page about Urquhart Castle with map of grounds, photos, history

http://www.aboutscotland.co.uk/ness/urquhart.html 

Beautiful photos of Urquhart Castle

http://www.cowboy.net/~celiac/urquhart.html