Inverness to Dunnottar Castle route

Hi, emmye,

I'd say that it's going to be a bit of a push, even given the new Aberdeen bypass, to get from Elgin to Dunnottar Castle in two hours. It's not impossible, but you are going to be rushed. It's a good road all the way, but sometimes you get stuck behind farm machinery or roadworks. The castle closes at 6:00, so the best thing to do would be to go directly to the castle, explore the interior, and then enjoy the views and take your outside photographs on the way back up to the car park. You can explore the interior of the castle in less than an hour.

Both Cawdor Castle and Elgin Cathedral are well worth your time. The cathedral can be done in about an hour, but you should give it more time, if you can. Climb the tower.

Best wishes.

Mike (Auchterless)

Dunnottar- The only thing I would add is that last entrance is at 5 o'clock (for 6 o'clock close), which is the time at the castle itself rather than at the car park.
I don't know how agile your Mom is, but you have a walk to the top of the steps from the car park, then a lot of steps initially down (I didn't count them but the access statement says over 200), and then back up a much shorter flight on the other side into the castle.
I think I would allow 15 to 20 minutes to get to that entrance, so you need to be there by very soon after 4.30pm, which cuts your schedule a little bit further.
How far away are you staying that night?- would you be able to visit next morning if need be, if road conditions have held you up?
It's also worth checking their website before leaving Elgin that they are open, if the weather is poor. Tomorrow they are expecting to be closed, due to the forecast for wind and rain, according to a ticker message on the website.

Isn has given you some very valuable insight into what it's like to go visit the site of Dunnottar. Those stairs to dip in and back up to get to the site (and back out again are steep (and long). You don’t just saunter over from the car park.

Auchterless- great idea to head right to the castle first and enjoy the outside on the way back to the car. Thanks!

isn31c- my mom walks daily and takes exercise classes at her local senior center, so she's not out of shape, but she's no super athlete either. I'm hoping the steps won't be too much for her if she takes her time. Yet another reason to get to Dunnottar early!
We're staying right in Stonehaven, so if the weather is bad that day, we could visit the following day (though I already have plans for the day that we'd have to revise). I'm thinking we might have to just stick to the grounds of Cawdor Castle.

Hi again, emmye,

The steps to Dunnottar Castle are a lot more intimidating in appearance than they actually are to negotiate. The steps at Neist Point on Skye are much longer. Obviously, it's much easier getting to the castle entrance than it is going back to the car park.

Once you and mum have visited the castle, the trick is to not try to get all the way back up to the car park in one fell swoop. Take the steps back up; stop when you get tired; turn around end enjoy the view; take some photographs; head up the steps some more; stop once again; turn around and enjoy the view; and repeat until you reach the car park.

The easiest way to get to Dunnottar is to take the Aberdeen bypass (A90) south once you reach it. When the bypass ends, stay on the A90 south toward Dundee. Just south of Stonehaven, you'll take the A92, which should be signposted for Inverbervie and Montrose. The turnoff for Dunnottar is less than a mile after you get on to the A92.

Enjoy Elgin Cathedral, Dunnottar, and Stonehaven! (And the rest of your holiday, of course!)

Mike (Auchterless)