Loch Leven Castle Audio Guide for Kinross

Welcome to one of Scotland’s most evocative island strongholds. You are currently looking out over the waters of Loch Leven, where this medieval fortress has stood as a guardian and a prison for over seven centuries. To reach the castle itself, you must board a small ferry from the pier at Kinross for a ten-minute journey across the water, mirroring the same path taken by kings, queens, and captives throughout history. As you approach the island, notice how the castle ruins seem to grow directly out of the landscape. Though the loch was partially drained in the eighteen hundreds, making the island larger today than it was in the past, it remains a secluded and naturally fortified site. This unique setting at the heart of the National Nature Reserve makes it a sanctuary not just for history enthusiasts, but for a magnificent array of birds and wildlife today. Step as if you are moving back through the centuries as we begin our exploration of this high-status sanctuary and state prison.