The castle is forever associated with the memory of Mary Queen of Scots who first visited in 1561 as a guest of the owner, Sir William Douglas. Her last stay was a different story; in 1567–8, it was as his prisoner and it was at Lochleven that she was compelled to abdicate her throne in favour of her infant son, James VI.
The castle walls held her for less than a year. In May 1568 on her second attempt she escaped across the loch and before that month was out she was in exile in England after her defeat at the disastrous Battle of Langside.
She never saw her native land again.
In medieval times, the island of Lochleven was much smaller than it is today – drainage works in 1836 saw to that. When Queen Mary was a prisoner, the walled castle enclosure with its little garden to the north were all that appeared above the water.
Opening Hours: 25 March - 30 September Daily, 10am to last outward sailing at 4.15pm
1-31 October Daily, 10am to last outward sailing at 3.15pm
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