The grounds of Dunnottar Castle. This picture was taken from the keep of the castle.
Two miles south of Stonehaven on the eastern Scottish coastline sits Dunnottar Castle. These ruins have as their recent claim to fame, the fact that they were used as the location for the filming of Hamlet starring Mel Gibson. While the site is quite impressive, Dunnottar is a challenge to visit. After parking in a parking lot, one must walk along a half-mile dirt path to a cliff. Then, one has to go down a cliff, across a beach and up another cliff to reach the castle. All in all, it's quite a hike. Once on the grounds the castle has several ruins worth exploring. However, everyone of them is covered in pigeon and seagull droppings. Several of the buildings that have roofs on them feel like your walking into an aviary. Since the castle is privately owned and operated (as opposed to ownership by a group like Historic Scotland), it doesn't seem to bring in enough money for building maintenance and cleaning. So, if you don't mind the walk and the mess, you will find one of the more impressive castle complexes in Scotland at Dunnottar. The entrance fee is £1.50. There are no student discounts for entrance.
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