Inverness Castle - a fabulous experience
5
5
Date of visit: December 2025
I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets, hearing, moving around and speaking or communicating.
Overall Rating
Excellent
Fabulous, fully accessible experience. The exterior was a lovely introduction to the castle - with great views of Inverness from the garden and esplanade. Clearly a lot of thought has been put into the whole Inverness Castle ‘experience’, for everyone. There is a lift to the rooftop terrace, and then a wee platform lift. The views from there are fantastic. We were there at the beginning of sunset and that made it more magical. Inside the experience ‘rooms’ were wonderful - very much about getting a sense of Highland culture and not just about facts. Lovely welcoming and informed staff. The bistro/cafe area was very well laid out and was in the same area as the fully accessible toilets, including a lovely Changing Places toilet. The shop was also in this area but we ran out of time to visit, next time:) The information boards around the place are well done and accessible too. In the castle on entry you are given a device with information about each room in the experience and you tap that to a symbol in each room to hear the story of that room/area. It really is well done. Suitable for all ages. There are also BSL signed videos. This is somewhere that will draw people back again and again I believe. Certainly we will, whether for the views, the interiors, the bistro or to linger in the gardens and enjoy a picnic…. They also have a fish and chip truck in the esplanade. We didn’t try that but I could see it would be very popular. Truly something for everyone. A real asset for locals and visitors alike.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
The only bit not to have a lift is the very, very top tower where the flagpole is. The rooftop terrace (where the flagpole tower steps go up) is accessible via the lift then a wee platform lift . There is a member of staff at the top to help people with anything from questions to working the wee platform lift - but you can work it yourself too. The views from the rooftop terrace are stunning. At the beginning of the ‘experience rooms’ there is one called the mirror room. I get visual disturbance / migraine from lines and shimmers so didn’t go into this bit. Also possibly not ok if a seizure might be triggered.? But that will vary from person to person, so I can only speak from my own perspective. It is only a tiny part of the experience and can be bypassed into the experience by going into the next room by a door just along the corridor a few metres. Staff are there to help and are very helpful. Through the experience there are benches at intervals in the corridors as well as seating in the experience rooms. All wheelchair friendly too. Entry to the castle can be pre-booked and is probably advisable. This is to stagger entrants so that nowhere becomes overcrowded which is sensible. You can just walk uo and get a ticket if any are available, but staff can tell you if it’s busy and when there are open slots. The good thing is you can go to the bistro, shop, walk on the esplanade and gardens, look at the view if you are able to wait. If you live in the Higlands you can purchase a Highlander Pass -details on the website. We all loved the Castle and are looking forward to going again and again.
Accessible facilities: Lift to all areas, Step-free entrance, Seating at regular intervals
Parking & Transport
Excellent
I travelled to this place by walk or wheel
The castle sits on a hill (as many castles do:) There is a small public parking car park at the bottom. It has a few accessible designated bays and also EV bays. It is quite a steep slope to the Castle gardens and esplanade from the gardens but I am in my late 60s and managed absolutely fine with a young child in a wheelchair. Once in the gardens the paths and ramps are lovely and smooth and a good incline. If that sounds daunting accessible parking is available at the castle but needs to be booked beforehand. Details of this are in the accessibility section of the website. The architects have clearly put a lot of thought into accessibility and I think they have looked for solutions as part of the process of change, not as an add on. The booked parking makes sure anyone who needs to get right uo to the castle in their vehicle can. The Changing places is lovely and spacious with electronic plinth and sink. It also has a shower. Very pleasant and it’s right beside all the other toilets /baby changing areas. And these are all accessed from the lovely airy bistro and cafe. I really can’t recommend this enough. A real gem in the heart of Inverness.
Accessible facilities: Electric Vehicle Charging, Drop-off or pick up point, Dedicated on-site parking, Public or on street parking
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
Fantastic. I can’t remember if it has a closomat toilet. Sorry!
Facilities: Accessible toilet, Changing Places toilet, Changing Places toilet with shower
Staff
Excellent
Everyone, everywhere was kind, approachable, knowledgeable and personable. Perfect Highland, inclusive, hospitality.
