Castle of Old Wick
Highland, Scotland
Key facts
- Operator
- Historic Environment Scotland
- Condition
- Ruin
- Access
- Free, open access
- Nearest station
- Wick, 1.4 miles (straight-line)
Pinpoint
March Rd, Wick KW1 5TY
More castles in the Highlands →
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
A Norse-era tower reduced to little more than a stub of wall on a promontory above the cliffs south of Wick - free to visit, and honestly more about the walk than the ruin. Reviewers consistently say there's not much building left, but the coastal path out to it, past dramatic rock formations and on to a sea stack, is worth the trip on its own.
Worth the trip
The coastal walk itself, culminating in a sea stack past the ruin - reviewers rate the scenery well above what's left of the castle.
Before you go
The ruins are currently cordoned off for renovation, so this is a walk-and-view visit rather than an explore-the-tower one; parking and the path up are both easy.
Reviewers consistently agree that the castle ruin itself is small and, at the time of these visits, closed or fenced off, but the real draw is the coastal walk to reach it - several call the views and rock formations along the cliffside path stunning and worth the trip regardless of limited access to the ruins themselves. No one raises the lack of interior access as a major complaint, more a heads-up that this is a scenery visit as much as a castle visit.
Free; Norse-era tower on cliff-edge promontory
“Beautiful walk out there. Amazing views - even on a day with fog.”- Dan Mark, visitor review
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “Castle ruins on the top of a cliff, amazing scenery and a short 15 minute walk from the carpark past the mound and through the gate across the cliffs is an amazing sea stack.” - Helz C
Common questions about Castle of Old Wick
Where is Castle of Old Wick?
Castle of Old Wick is in Highland, Scotland, at March Rd, Wick KW1 5TY.
Is Castle of Old Wick free to visit?
Yes - Castle of Old Wick is a free, open-access site with no ticket booth, looked after by Historic Environment Scotland. There may still be a charge for nearby parking, and open-access arrangements can change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel.
What is the highlight of visiting Castle of Old Wick?
The coastal walk itself, culminating in a sea stack past the ruin - reviewers rate the scenery well above what's left of the castle.
Is Castle of Old Wick a ruin or still intact?
Castle of Old Wick is a ruin - Free; Norse-era tower on cliff-edge promontory.
