The castle sits beside Loch Ness in Scotland along the A82 road, between Fort William and Inverness. It is close to the village of Drumnadrochit. Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness. It is also near the castle where the majority of Nessie (Loch Ness Monster) sightings occur.

As a romantic ruin, Urquhart Castle must be the envy of romantic ruins the world over. It's not just that its intriguing shape reflects the irregular outcrop of rock on which it was built. And it's not just that for the last millennium or more this site has been the key that unlocks the major route through the Highlands.

No, what makes Urquhart Castle the definitive romantic ruin is the possibility that the 600 foot deep waters surrounding it on three sides may suddenly ripple, then part, as something completely unknown to science emerges to confound a sceptical world.

Nessie may or may not exist. But the possibility that she does provides a powerful draw to the visitors who flock to the area year after year. And although Loch Ness has roads on both sides, access to the loch is relatively limited, and the views from the A82 are often restricted by trees, especially in Summer.

It is therefore no surprise that the coincidence at Urquhart Castle of good access to the loch, good views across and along it, and a stunning set of ruins, should be so popular.

2002 saw the opening of a new visitor centre. This is built into the hillside beside and below the main road and offers much better car and coach parking as well as a spacious shop, cafe, audio-visual displays and a superb model showing the castle in earlier, less ruinous days.