Dundonald Castle Admissions with Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO

More info

We accept Historic Scotland membership cards for admission (although as the visitor centre is operated by our charity, Friends of Dundonald Castle, we are not able to offer HS discounts within our shop).

Please note that Historic Scotland members can book tickets in advance, however, you must also show a valid membership on arrival at the site before you will be granted entry. If you do not bring a valid membership, we reserve the right to refuse entry and you may be asked to purchase tickets on-site to gain entry if you still wish to.

Under 5's, Historic Scotland Members and Friends of Dundonald Castle all are welcome for free!

What to expect

• There is a steep hill you will have to walk up to get into the castle proper.
• Please note that there is a small car park located on the site, however, this does fill up quite quickly and you may have to park somewhere safely in the village and walk to the site from there.
• If you have pre-booked, please let the team in the visitor centre know you have arrived by giving them your name and showing your tickets. Tickets can be shown on your phone or you can print out the confirmation email if you would prefer. You will also be asked to show your membership cards at this point, if applicable.
• Tours are complimentary and are available at set times (see admission page for details)
• The castle also overlooks ancient woodland, containing SSSIs, and is situated on popular walking routes including the Smugglers’ Trail and Old Auchans.
• Open 7 days a week, the visitor centre museum is a great place to begin exploring the site’s long history before enjoying our newly launched menu in the coffee shop.
• We also have a small gift shop filled with lots of local suppliers, crafters and authors.
• After your visit inside Dundonald Castle, you are free to explore the grounds and pop into the Visitor Centre for some refreshments at your leisure.

On Arrival

Drop into the Visitor Centre (open 11am-4pm daily) on arrival and our lovely front-of-house team will let you know where to go. Entry to the castle is available during opening hours, but tours are at the following set times: Castle tour start times: 11am, 12pm, 130pm, 230pm - Tours are complimentary and are led by FoDC's fantastic volunteer tour guides 🏰