The qasr at Burqu (pronounced with difficulty, along the
lines of "beurkaa" rather than "berkoo") can be grouped –
archeologically speaking – with the "Desert Castles" of Hallabat, Azraq and others, a small Roman fort occupied and expanded during the Islamic period. However, the ruins take a poor second place to Burqu's quite extraordinary natural environment, both on the off-road journey to reach the site and once you arrive: the qasr stands on the shores of Ghadir Burqu, a substantial lake some 2km long which is fabulous enough by itself, hidden in the depths of the desert, but which also serves as the lifeline and congregation point for an array of animals and local and migrating birds. Proposed to become a protected nature reserve under the aegis of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), Burqu is a wild and dramatic place, well worth the long and difficult journey. It lies at the focal point of desert tracks roughly 18km north of Muqat or 25km northwest of Ruwayshid, and is all-but-impossible to locate without the help of a guide with intimate local knowledge.

Just before Ruwayshid there will be a small sign posted for the turn off. I went in May and the lake was dry. The castle can be reached by a car, though portions might be a little bumpy. It has been stated in many guides that you need a local guide. I did not find this to be true. If you simply follow the sand piles (it seems that a bulldozer made a series of piles, two wide the whole way). Just before you reach the castle, you will see the remainder of the tower to your left, there will be a fork in the road go to the left here. This will leave you at the northern side of the castle. You can just about drive all the way up to the castle. It is about 20kms from the main road.

I would suggest that you skip the castle unless there has been a good amount of rainfall that year.