Inverarary castle- can you visit exterior without charge?

You can get some good photos from the parking lot in front. The day we went we didn’t have to pay for parking. I don’t remember if you can walk the gardens without a ticket, but nobody was checking when we entered them. The only place tickets were checked was to go into the castle.

It seems its website would say. We were there in October 2022, outside of the main tourist season, and late in the day.

Thank you. We will be very near there so might as well stop by and give it a try. I wish we had more time to properly tour the whole place, but we would probably be arriving after closing time anyway.

We were there in 2015 and 2016, so things might have changed, but our experience was that you basically have to pay to enter the parking lot if you want to get good pictures. You can see the castle from the drive entrance before the pay gate, but it's not a great view. And you are not allowed to stroll around the grounds without paying.

The interior is self-guided, or at least it was when we were there, so we had the option to go through quickly or slowly.

It costs a huge amount of money to maintain these landmarks. I don't begrudge them charging an entry fee. I know those fees are only a drop in the bucket toward maintenance costs.

I just got back from 2 weeks in the Highlands. Inverarary Castle had no fees for parking. I walked up to the ticket booth which is literally 20 yds or so from the front of the castle. I could not enter the gardens or the castle without buying a ticket, but could definitely walk close in front of it and take as many photos as I wanted. The tour is not expensive at all and well worth it. I saw seven castles in the highlands and this was by far the best bang for my buck.

Thanks. If we arrive during opening time we have decided to see inside. Thanks for the feedback that you enjoyed it. What other castles were your favorites?

Fortress castles or Palace castles?

Stirling, Doune, Dunotter, Eilean Donan, Holyrood, and Glamis come to mind. Scone Palace was ok, but not our favorite.

Both lol! On our list is Stirling or Edinburgh (only time for one-leaning towards Stirling), Urqhart ruins on Loch Ness, possibly Dunvegan on Skye, and would love to see Dunnottar, and one palace castle (leaning towards Glamis too)

Thanks for your feedback!

Heads-up that the castle and gardens are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday: https://www.inveraray-castle.com/