Castles in Scotland – An Ultimate Guide For Exploring in 2024

It’s most likely unknown how many castles in Scotland there are or how many there were. But one thing is for certain, you’ll never be too far from one. And when traveling to the north of the United Kingdom, one cannot come without exploring some castles in Scotland. That is the epitome of seeing this beautiful country.

Yeah, there is the Scottish food, Scottish music, and even the amazing scenery, but that can all be done en route to seeing castles in Scotland. However, if exploring castles in Scotland is not your main goal of visiting Scotland, make sure to at least explore just one Scottish castle–that is a must.

Here in this post, we will provide you with general recommendations for getting to Scotland and when, how to get around Scotland, castles in Scotland map, and where to stay for your trip abroad exploring castles in Scotland.

Then, we will provide a Scottish Castles List of 70+ different castles to see around the country that we have personally been to. This is NOT a complete Scottish castles list, the post is already long enough. 😉

Next, we will provide a brief history lesson on the castle, how to visit the castle, and what our overall opinion of each castle is.

Here is everything you need to know in our Ultimate Guide to Exploring Castles in Scotland:

Feeling Lazy? Jump to one of these sections below:

• Castles in Scotland Video
• Best Time to Visit Castles in Scotland
• Getting Around Scotland
• Scotland Road Trip
• Castles in Scotland Map
• Things You Need For Exploring Castles in Scotland  
• Where to Stay When Exploring Castles in Scotland
• The Best Castles in Scotland
• Castles in Scotland
• Scottish Highlands Castles
• Castles near Edinburgh Scotland
• Castles near Glasgow Scotland
• Castles near Inverness Scotland
• Castles near Aberdeen Scotland
• Scottish Borders Castles in Scotland
• Dumfries and Galloway Castles in Scotland
• Scottish Islands Castles
• Bottom Line

Castles in Scotland Video

Best Time to Visit Castles in Scotland

This could be very easy to answer and very difficult to answer.

The Easy Answer

That’s the best time of year to visit!

It is said that you experience all four seasons on any given day of the year in Scotland. So whenever you can make the time to get yourself over to see Scotland, then do it. You won’t regret it!

The Difficult Answer

It depends. There are many things to see and do and at some times of the year, those things are not open, available, or in season.

So if you are more into getting into every single castle, then you will want to visit sometime between April and October. However, some castles are open year-round for visiting the castle grounds and its interior.

But how to narrow down which month?

Are you wanting to see the heather in bloom, then springtime may suite you best.

Supposing that you are wanting to see some Puffins, you may want to be visiting in July/August time.

And if the Fringe Festival is your thing, well, you better be coming in August.

It just depends on what your other interests are. Therefore, you need to plan accordingly.

The bottom line is, you can come at any time of the year and be sure to have some sun, a bit of rain, and a grand time checking off all those castles in Scotland!

READ MORE | Choosing The Best Times To Visit Scotland For You

Castle Tour Scotland

For the best way to go about seeing castles in Scotland–it is by actually getting out of the cities itself! …leave the city castles for last!

Getting Around Scotland

There are many ways of getting around Scotland. Some of these include renting a car or van, using public transportation like buses, trains, ferries, and even flying.

Renting a Car in Scotland

Hiring or renting a car in Scotland is one of the best possible ways to get out on the open road and see the masses of castles in Scotland.

Let me explain…

Being able to rely on no one else than you or the people you are traveling with free’s up so much. You have more freedom of choosing when to get to a castle, how late to stay, how many you can see in one day, or being able to get to those hard to reach castles. Like the castles that do not have public transportation to.

Many castles have their grounds open year-round. However, if you can beat the crowds to get some pictures before the “tourists” photobomb your epic photo, wouldn’t that be worth it right there?!

Check rental car prices in Scotland before you go!

Or read our post about getting a free rental car in Scotland through RyanAir!

Renting a Van in Scotland

Now the previous option seems pretty legit.

But imagine everything about hiring a car in Scotland then adding accommodation to it!

Hiring a van in Scotland that is all kitted or built out with a bed, a place to cook, and even a place to go potty is pretty much a dream come true!

And that isn’t even the best part about it all.

The best part is being able to park anywhere you feel like, within good reason, and camp there without being told to move on.

In Scotland there is a thing called the freedom to roam and that gives you the most freedom to be able to explore even the most difficult to get to and far out castles around Scotland.

We personally have never rented a van in Scotland. However, we do know and understand the benefits of utilizing a camper van in Scotland–we lived that van life in Scotland for 2.5 years.

So that is why we can so highly recommend going down this route!

We saw many companies during our time in Scotland. However, Paul Campers is home to the largest collection of van rentals in Europe and the United Kingdom.

Check out prices and availability for Paul Campers here.

The next options seem pretty lousy in comparison to renting a van in Scotland, but they are options, and not traveling around in a camper van in Scotland isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so I must include the others.

Public Transportation in Scotland

Bus

Taking a bus is a great option when not choosing to venture too far out of the city. Just make sure the bus stop takes you within reason of your Scottish Castle destination. Sometimes when looking at a map, it may seem like you’re a 5 or 10-minute walk away, however, maps can be deceiving sometimes and you could ultimately be a 30 or 40-minute hike away. So just be aware!

If this is your option, make sure to check out https://www.firstgroup.com/south-east-and-central-scotland or use the widget below.

Train

Taking a train may be for transportation or it could be part of your holiday experience. If taking a train isn’t something that you have done or that you’re used to, then taking at least one train in Scotland may be worth your while.

It’s a great opportunity to see a different side of Scotland that you couldn’t get from being on a motorway. This is because once you get out into the countryside, you truly get to see Scotland for its luscious green rolling hill beauty or its majestic coastline.

The main train company servicing Scotland is ScotRail. Go to their website to find special deals and times that work for your trip!

Ferry Boat

If you are planning on getting out to the Scottish Western Isles, Orkney Isles, or Shetland Isles, you will need to take a ferry. On the other hand, you could fly to some locations, but it’s always an outrageous price.

When we were exploring the Western Isles, we took the Outer Hebrides ferry many times–you have to over there–to get from island to island.

Just note that if you are hoping to get to some harder to reach castles via this method of travel, you’ll need to incorporate other methods of travel, too, like a bus, or taxi/Uber.

There are different companies that operate in different locations in Scotland.

Calmac Ferries service the Western Isles so check their website if you are planning a trip there.

NorthLink Ferries service to the Northern Isles, so check their website if you are planning a trip there.

Now, if you are coming from Europe and are planning to ferry your own vehicle across to the UK, then we highly recommend taking one of the DFDS ferries.

They have consistently been the cheapest method for getting your own vehicle into Britain.

Cheaper than the Euro-tunnel for sure (in our experiences).

But cheaper does come at a cost; with that being your time.

However, the ship has plenty of things to pass the time with and has a great buffet, too! What else could you want?!

Fly

This is probably the most impractical method of travel within Scotland, as the country isn’t all that big. And flying, as I said above, you’ll have to incorporate the other methods of transportation as well.

Flying just gets too dang expensive when you in not a very big country to begin with. However, if time is of the essence and you are planning a trip to either the northern island group or western isle group, then flying might be your best option.

This post about getting to Shetland highlights the many flying options available.

If you want to compare flights through a site like Momondo or the Skyscanner widget below, we do highly recommend that first. Then go onto the main airlines that service the islands in Scotland.

Hitchhike

This is probably the riskiest and maybe most rewarding method of transportation in Scotland. Not too many people do it and not too many people pick up hitchhikers. But one time we were in Oban, Scotland and driving north out of the village and we saw two girl hitchhikers. They were jazzed on life despite having sat in the same spot for nearly half a day.

Just make sure you have food, water, and shelter with you for those times when everybody just passes you by.

Scotland Road Trip – To See Castles in Scotland

In our truest opinion, the best way to see castles in Scotland is via a Scotland road trip in your own vehicle, a rented car, or a rented van… possibly even on a bike if you have the legs and the time!

The castles are each pinned below, and we’ve color coordinated them to different areas of Scotland. You can look at just the layer of colored pins in the place you’re going to see castles near Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and Aberdeen. From there, build your epic Scotland Castles road trip!

If you want help planning your trip or are looking for more to do in the area, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to help any way we can!

Castles in Scotland Map

This Scotland castles map can help you get an overview of where different castles are located and maybe how you can plan your own road trip.

Things You Need For Exploring Castles in Scotland

When exploring castles in Scotland, you don’t “need” much! However, there are always a few things that will make a Scotland castles tour more enjoyable, cheaper, and easier!

Travel Apps

The Castles of Scotland map above has loads of pins on it. And honestly, it may be a bit overwhelming looking at the map as a whole! Since there’s no possible way you can get to all the castles on the map in a normal trip to Scotland, we suggest downloading maps.me and “pinning” the castles you do wish to visit!

It will help you be much more organized!

Don’t worry, we talk more about “pinning” and maps.me, along with nine other free travel apps that we recommend for anyone traveling abroad in this post here!

Membership Passes for Castles in Scotland

While there are several castles in Scotland to visit for free, there are also a large amount of them that are paid for entries. These paid-for castles can add up quickly and completely wreck any kind of travel budget!

But there’s a way to make these visits cheaper! The first few months living in Scotland, we weren’t cardholders to any of the Scotland memberships. However, we quickly realized to explore the castles in Scotland and its historic sites, we needed to become members of many different places!

We spent the first year as members of the National Trust of Scotland, and in the second year, we became members of Historic Scotland. This allowed us to dive into the rich historic places offered throughout Scotland!

Now, you could just go to Scotland and enjoy the free castles and historic sites (all of which are lovely too), or just pay for one or two you’d like to visit. But, if you find that you fancy multiple castles within the same pass family, you may want to consider becoming a member to get a killer deal on visiting multiple castles!

Historic Scotland / Historic Environment Scotland

It’s two names and is used interchangeably.

Historic Environment Scotland is one of the more popular membership offers available, mainly because of its wide range of properties. It is a year-long pass and can be purchased all at once or monthly if you have a bank in Scotland/UK.

Castles under this membership include Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Urquhart Castle, Caerlaverock Castle, and many more.

This Historic Scotland membership is a bit more expensive for an annual pass, coming in at £59 for the year.

However, if you will be in Scotland for more than two weeks and plan on getting around to abbeys, castles, and more – then this pass is for you! Especially when you consider getting into Edinburgh Castle alone is nearly £20 at the gate!

If you’re planning a visit to Scotland for less than 14 days, then do not buy this pass, check out the Explorer Pass Scotland below!

Get more detailed pricing on the Annual Historic Scotland pass here.

Explorer Pass Scotland / Historic Scotland Explorer Pass

If you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you’ll be in Scotland for only 3-14 days, then the Explorer Pass Scotland is the pass for you. While this does run cheaper than the annual Historic Scotland pass, the price difference isn’t all that great.

The Explorer Pass starts at £35.00 (November 1 – March 28) and starts at £44 for “high season” (March 29 – September 30). They offer family pricing, student pricing, and senior pricing as well. Be sure to check out their website for more details on pricing plans!

National Trust for Scotland Castles + More Membership

The National Trust of Scotland (NTS) hosts many of the castles in Aberdeenshire and is the best bang for your buck if you plan to visit two or more castles near Aberdeen. Coming in at only £40.20 per year for ages up to 24, this membership is a rather good deal!

While the National Trust for Scotland membership is much cheaper than Historic Scotland’s membership, they do not have as many places to visit. If you’re going to purchase this membership, be sure it’s worth your while, by making sure the castles are under the NTS! Again, many, but not all of the castles around Aberdeen and within Aberdeenshire are included in this membership!

So plan out where you’re wanting to go and see which castles are under which membership or if they are privately paid for or free.

Other food for thought. If you think that you will be going to other countries that also host NTS sites within the same calendar year, well then this membership ups the ante that much more. Making it more attractive and much cheaper per site you visit within that year. Just do your homework on where you’ll be going and if there are NTS sites where you’ll be going!

Check out the National Trust for Scotland’s website here for more details.

Treasure Ticket Bundle for 3 Castles in Scotland 

The Treasure Ticket Bundle is a unique offer to three private and popular castles in Scotland that teamed up together. They don’t fall under the Historic Scotland membership or National Trust for Scotland.

If you plan on visiting Blair Castle, Glamis Castle, and Scone Palace, the Treasure Ticket Bundle offers a 15% discount on the entry to the three places. You can purchase your treasure ticket at any of the three participating locations: Adult £36.00, Child £24.00, Senior Citizen £29.00, Family Ticket £110.00 (2 adults + 3 children).

Where to Stay When Exploring Castles in Scotland

Whether you’re looking for a hotel stay in Scotland, a country cottage, a glamping pod, or a stay at one of the many lodges in Scotland, we always recommend staying outside of major cities. This way you can truly enjoy the Scottish countryside – one of the prettiest we’ve seen across the globe, and often you’ll find rates cheaper than the big city pricing!

Scotland Hotels

In big cities like Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Inverness, you’ll find big hotel chains to stay at. However, with prices up around 100 USD, staying at a big fancy hotel in Scotland isn’t best for any budget.. and you won’t get a proper British stay at a lot of large hotels.

If however, hotels are the kind of stay you’re looking for, our favorite website to search for hotels is Momondo. They compare sites like Booking, Agoda, Expedia and more, showcasing the best prices and the best days to stay! Check out current Scotland Hotel prices here.

You can also find cottages, bnbs, and lodges in Scotland on both booking.com and Momondo, they aren’t just for hotels!

Scottish castle hotels are obviously an exciting option if you are willing to spend the cash on it. We personally never stayed in any castle hotels in Scotland. However, here are a few castles to stay in Scotland that are included in our list below. Ardverikie Castle, Culzean Castle, Kildrummy Castle, Rosslyn Castle,

Scotland Airbnb’s

Airbnb is a much more affordable way to stay in Scotland, and you’ll get a much more local feel for your stay. Airbnb offers a wide range of accommodation for Scotland. You can find castle stays, country cottages, city apartments, lodges in Scotland and more!

Wild Camping / Sleeping in Campervan in Scotland

It’s free and legal to wild camp in Scotland, and there are often places near the castles to do so! Just be sure to pack out whatever you pack in — this includes your used toilet paper! And if you don’t have a toilet with you, be sure to dig a hole 6 inches deep, and 100 feet away from water to do your duty!

Don’t have your own campervan? Rent a van for touring Scotland here, starting at £55/day. It will save you so much money, trust us!

If you have a campervan and would like to stay overnight at a castle that doesn’t have a gate for the entrance / that isn’t occupied with overnight residents, chances are you can! We “stayed” at numerous (Ardvreck Castle, Bothwell Castle, & New Slains Castle) castles in Scotland just by parking in their parking lots or pitching our tents right near the castle!

The Best Castles in Scotland

If you only had a short time in Scotland and you had to limit the number of castles you could visit and choose from… well then, these 10 famous castles would be the “Must See Castles in Scotland” to visit! And here’s why!

But before I give you a list of the best castles in Scotland, I have to address which ones are by far the most famous Scottish castles first.

A lot of Scottish Castles’ popularity is growing due to the trend in posting images on social media, major TV shows like Outlander and Game of Thrones and Movies using Scottish Castles as their location in a scene. But another reason why is simply due to its location and the ease of getting to.

Some castles are on both lists and can be a little subjective, but this is our true feelings and we wouldn’t put it on the list if we didn’t truly feel they were the best castles of Scotland to explore!

Most Famous Castles in Scotland (in order)

1. Edinburgh Castle
2. Eilean Donan Castle
3. Urquhart Castle
4. Dunnottar Castle
5. Dunrobin Castle
6. Dunvegan Castle
7. Balmoral Castle
8. Blair Castle
9. Glamis Castle
10. Stirling Castle

The Best Castles in Scotland (in no particular order)

1. New Slains Castle
2. Caerlaverock Castle
3. Hermitage Castle
4. Kilchurn Castle
5. Muness Castle
6. Urquhart Castle
7. Scalloway Castle
8. Inveraray Castle
9. Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
10. Dunstaffnage Castle

Castles in Scotland – 70+ Castles to Choose From in Scotland

Scottish Highlands Castles

Ardverikie Castle – Kinloch Laggan, Newtonmore PH20 1BX, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free to explore the grounds.
• Access: Moderate walk from A86 in the Cairngorms National Park
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H52M, Edinburgh – 2H27M, Glasgow – 2H31M, Inverness – 1H24M
• Can you stay here? Yes!
• Should you visit? Yes! if you’re prepared to walk a bit.
• Extra Nugget: Go for a walk around its property, stay in one of its lodges, and get married on its grounds!

History

Ardverikie Castle is considered a baronial house due to its architectural style, but still certainly looks like a castle though. You can see Ardverikie Castle projecting high above the trees from across the loch as you are driving by on A86 through the Cairngorms National Park on Loch Laggan. If you are on a Scotland road trip, this would be a fun bit of architecture to check out. It is a 19th-century baronial house located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.

Visiting

The public is welcome to come and enjoy the estate grounds at any time, however, they ask you to park in a layby on A86 approximately 1/4 mile from the Gatelodge and walk onto the estate from there. They do not allow you to drive onto the estate unless you are registered disabled and hold a blue badge. Note that it is nearly a 3-mile walk (oneway) from where you are asked to park and the main castle house. Access to the main reception rooms in Ardverikie Castle is restricted to its guests.

However, if you are interested in exploring more of this extraordinary estate and gaining exclusive access to its main reception rooms, you may want to consider booking this castle in Scotland as your accommodation for a night or two for some R&R. You can choose to stay in one of its six-holiday cabins/houses on the estate. Once you are a paying guest, you will be able to book your exclusive tour of the main building!

Ardverikie House has been gaining popularity since being featured in Outlander and the Netflix show, The Crown–blending in for being the Balmoral Castle.

Opinion

Overall, this is one of the better castles in Scotland to stop at and go for a walk to get your legs moving after being in the car for a while. It’s a pretty neat castle and we feel that if you are in the area, you should add this castle to your list of exploring.

Do you need more information on Ardverikie Castle like exploring its grounds, staying in its Cottages, or even looking for a venue to get married at? Then check out their website for more info.

Ardvreck Castle – Lairg IV27 4HL, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Completely free
• Access: Easy access and flat
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H53M, Edinburgh – 4H40M, Glasgow – 4H45M, Inverness – 1H51M
• Can you stay here? Wild camping is do-able.
• Should you visit? Yes, a bit of a trek from most places, but worth it. Add it to your NC500 Road Trip!
• Extra Nugget: Pitch your tent directly beneath it and sleep under a Scottish Castle!

History

Ardvreck Castle is a ruined 16th-century structure located in a dramatic location on a rocky prominence extending out on Loch Assynt. Ardvreck Castle was built by Clan Macleod but only stood for 82 years before Clan Mackenzie destroyed it, which has been abandoned ever since.

Visiting

This highlands castle is open year-round as long as the weather is good and it’s not snowing, preventing you from driving to it. A perk to visiting this castle in Scotland is that there is no membership required and it’s not owned privately, which in most cases would require an admission fee. But for Ardvreck Castle, there is no pass or fee required to explore this Scottish castle.

To reach this stunning castle, you will need to drive a bit north out of Inverness on A837–basically starting the NC500. You will have nearly completed a third of it if you’re wanting to visit Ardvrek Castle. So getting to this castle is a bit of a drive, but it is worth it, especially if you are planning on doing the Scottish version of America’s Route 66, The North Coast 500. It has amazing scenery all around and its a great road trip. What’s better than that?

Opinion

When we visited and explored Ardvreck Castle, we decided to stay in our tent right in front of the castle. It was amazing. We had never done anything like it before and boy were we jazzed we did!

Ballone Castle – Ballone Castle, Portmahomack, Tain IV20 1RD, United Kingdom

• Open: Private
• Prices: N/A
• Access: Single driveway. Get permission first.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H2M, Edinburgh – 3H49M, Glasgow – 3H54M, Inverness – 0H58M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? If you have nothing else to do, you got permission, and you’re in the area, then why not. Otherwise, no.
• Extra Nugget: Snap a quick picture incognito style. Like we did!

History

Ballone Castle is one of the privately owned castles in Scotland. It was built in the 16th century. It overlooks the Moray Firth on the North Sea, which is a triangular inlet that juts into Inverness. Ballone was purchased by the Stewart family back in 1990 when it was still in ruins and dismay. The family spent 8 years renovating, upgrading, and adding on to the pre-existing building before moving in. And continued working on it till 2010 when it was finished. They have since fully restored it and live in it with their three children.

Visiting

It is not possible to rent out, visit the grounds, or have tours of the inside unless you know the owners. However, doorsopendays.org.uk claims, “There will be guided tours every 40 minutes which don’t need to be booked in advance. The gardens will also be open.” So if this is a castle and grounds you want to explore, just do a little more digging before showing up, as per our experience below!

We were using the app, Maps.me, to help us find and visit castles when we were on a road trip in the Scottish north. We spotted Ballone Castle on the map. So we got excited to explore it.  Without any information, we decided to just go.

As we were driving up the dirt road, we began to see people coming out of the castle. There were a lot of cars and people and we quickly got the sense that we were not welcome. Although nearly all Scottish people are extremely nice and welcoming in most cases, it just didn’t seem right. No one was hasty or anything like that, but you could just feel that it wasn’t open to the public–for at least that day.

So we quickly put the van in reverse and got out of there. But before we had that feeling of not being welcomed, we had grabbed a couple of pictures of Ballone Castle. Check out these other pictures of Ballone Castle before the renovation.

Opinion

We do not recommend trying to visit this castle without doing a little more research. Try contacting the Highland Council Office before to see if they are doing any tours and if the castle grounds are open to the public. If nothing else, maybe you can see it from the road as we did. Nevertheless, just be aware and respectful of the owners’ private residence if you do decide to go explore Ballone Castle.

Blair Castle – Blair Atholl, Pitlochry PH18 5TL, United Kingdom

• Open: March 29
• Prices: Start at £17.50
• Access: Easy access from the A9 highway and a train station is a short walk away.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H8M, Edinburgh – 1H35M, Glasgow – 1H40M, Inverness – 1H30M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes! Great interior and history. Superb garden.
• Extra Nugget: Check out all the wildlife and try to count all the guns and rifles on the castle tour.

History

Blair Castle is a magnificent Category A listed building that was built in the 13th-century, in 1269 to be exact, and has since been remodeled and added to many times over the years. Blair Castle has been a major character in the history of different wars, battles, and uprisings–especially during the Jacobite rising of 1745 (the Forty-five rebellion) where it was being occupied and Clan Chiefs swore bonds together to keep the rising going. It is the ancestral home to Clan Murray and still has a designated duke, (12th) Duke Bruce Murray, who currently lives in South Africa.

Although this castle is located in Perthshire, it’s still technically in the highlands and is just inside the southern entrance of the Cairngorms National Park. It is located in Glen Garry just outside the village of Pitlochry off the main highway (A9) cutting through the central Scottish Highlands, which is very easy to access especially if you are on a road trip north to Inverness.

Visiting

If you’re using public transportation to get here, buses frequent this place each day and if you are training everywhere, there is a train stop in Blair Atholl for easy access to Blair Castle.

To visit Blair Castle, you will want to show up on or after April 1st, but before October 30th between the times of 9:30 am and 5:30 pm 7-days a week with last entry being 4:30 pm for the day. They are closed during the winter months.

You can purchase your tickets at the main entrance in the castle or online if you prefer.

If you are planning on exploring the castles in Scotland that fall into the “Treasure Ticket” bundle (Glamis Castle, Scone Palace, and Blair Castle), you may want to hold out on purchasing your tickets online and buy at the respective ticket offices as you will get a discount for purchasing one ticket and getting to see these three superb places. You get about a 15% discount on your Treasure Ticket.

Access

Once entering Blair Castle, you set off on a self-guided tour through each castle room and floor. Each space will provide you with information on its history, special artifacts, souvenirs, hunting trophies, and collections. Upon finishing the self-guided tour inside, you will exit and now be able to explore the grounds.

Some of the grounds are free to roam without purchasing the “house and gardens” ticket, however, we do suggest also purchasing both options as their garden is truly magical. It is listed in the “Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland”, which makes it a significant garden in Scotland that you should probably check out!

If you have children with you, they have a fun little playground for them to get their energy out at. It is even fun for the grownups, too!

This isn’t one of the castles in Scotland you can stay at or rent out, however, there is a caravan park on the property that you can stay at (book in advance) if you rented a van or brought your own camping gear. If that isn’t your cup of tea, then you can stay in the quaint village of Blair Atholl or Pitlochry, which is one of our most favorite highland villages in Scotland!

Opinion

Overall this castle in Scotland is awesome! You’re in the Scottish Highlands, in a glen, surrounded with beauty and a great big white Blair Castle! The self-guided tour is worth it. You see so many old relics and amazing history and hunting trophies. This kind of stuff usually isn’t our interest, but Blair Castle surprised us and made us glad we got the ticket. Also, the grounds are beautiful. There is a ton of wildlife. We saw deer, peacocks, horses, etc.. And the garden is spectacular. There is even a tree there that is the second tallest tree in Britain, standing at 206 feet tall.

Castle Menzies – Weem, Aberfeldy PH15 2JD, United Kingdom

• Open: April 1st to October 31st (Dates may change, call to confirm at +44 (0)1887 820982)
• Prices: Start at £10.00
• Access: North of the River Tay a few minutes off of highway A9
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H11M, Edinburgh – 1H41M, Glasgow – 1H36M, Inverness – 2H4M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? You could get away without seeing this one. But if you’re driving by, then most certainly!
• Extra Nugget: Bonny Prince Charlie stayed here for a couple of nights.

History

Castle Menzies is a 16th-century z-plan castle that housed the Menzies clan for over 500 years. Historically, Castle Menzies has had a lot going on. Bonny Prince Charlie stayed here for a couple of nights as he was making his way up to the battle of Culloden.

Visiting

When can you visit this castle in Scotland? Well, the dates haven’t been updated since 2018, but as it says on its website, call so you don’t get disappointed.

They are open from Monday to Saturday from 10.30 am until 5.00 pm with the last entry at 4.00 pm. Sundays from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm with the last entry at 4.00 pm in April and October. And Monday to Saturday from 10.30 am until 5.00 pm with the last entry at 4.30 pm. And Sundays from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm with the last entry at 4.30 pm from May through September. Bank and Public Holidays: open as usual.

This is not one of the castles in Scotland made for overnight stays, however, if you want to rent out this castle for your special event, you can do so. Their most popular event hire is for weddings. If you are looking to stay near this castle, there is a cottage up the road that shares the same driveway.

Opinion

This castle is not a popular one and it doesn’t have much to boast about. It isn’t part of a larger membership scheme and it may be hit or miss on getting in to see it. And as we haven’t seen the inside, we can’t comment on much about that.

But when we were in the area and drove by, we thought this castle had something special about it. A sort of charm that most castles seem to lack. It may have been that we drove by in the offseason, or maybe that it was a beautiful sunny morning in Scotland, or even that we saw an old Scotsman walking his dog exiting the castle. We don’t quite know what drew us in, but we quite enjoyed it.

So if you find yourself in this area, please check it out and maybe it will be open and not more expensive than what I quoted above. Because if we found ourselves near Castle Menzies again, we would try to explore it again, so you should too!

Castle of Mey – Mey, Thurso KW14 8XH, United Kingdom

• Open: May-September (Closed end of July and beginning of August) Check website for most up to date details
• Prices: Start at £14.50
• Access: West of John O’Groats in the far Scottish North. A 10-minute walk down the drive if you take the bus.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 5H2M, Edinburgh – 5H35M, Glasgow – 5H42M, Inverness – 2H35M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes, but don’t make this be your only destination, add in the NC500 while your up there!
• Extra Nugget: Castle of Mey was owned by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and was donated to the Castle of Mey Trust in 1996.

History

Castle of Mey is a 16th century castle that exchanged hands a few times and was renamed to Barrogill Castle. It had gone through a few architectural changes in the 17th and 18th-centuries matching the Tudor Gothic style of its time. In the early 20th-century, it became an officer’s rest station during the second world war and in 1950 it was put on the housing market.

This castle in Scotland was purchased in a semi-abandoned state by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1952. She wanted to use this estate as a summer holiday home. So she then went about restoring the residence. She would spend about three weeks in August and about 10-days in October each year until it was handed over to the Castle of Mey Trust in 1996. She passed away shortly after in 2002.

Visiting

If you are looking to explore this royal Scottish castle, then you should travel here sometime between May 1st and September 30th. According to the Castle of Mey’s website, they will be closed at the end of July and at the beginning of August, but do not have set dates in place. Therefore, check the website to have the most up to date information to avoid being disappointed.

Their castle tour, garden, and grounds prices are as follows.

Castle of Mey has a lovely cafe on site, so make sure you sit down and relax with a tea or coffee and a baked goodie. One other notable attraction is their animal center for the whole family to enjoy!

This castle in Scotland is not possible for private renting as far as staying in it, however, if you are looking for a luxury bed and breakfast experience, this is the one. There is a 10-bedroom B&B just a few meters away from the main castle. If this isn’t your style, then choose their detached Captain’s Residence House that is self-catered and overlooks the Orkney Islands on a clear day.

Are you looking to get married in Scotland at a castle, well then, The Castle of Mey might be the perfect one for you! The venue offers a spectacular wedding venue with stellar views all around!

Opinion

This isn’t a castle that is part of a trust or organization of castles in Scotland. So if you are planning on exploring multiple castles in Scotland on one pass, this one will not work. However, this one is a nice castle add-on which will cost you more but is worth it in the end.

As you can see in the drive times to get here from the major cities in Scotland, it’s a bit of a jaunt. Therefore, this castle must entice you to make the trip up and see it. In our opinion, this is a really neat and esthetically pleasing castle to explore. If you are really into the royal family and its history and really into all things monarch, then this castle is just the one for you!

Castle Of Old Wick – March Rd, Wick KW1 5TY, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Drive in from Wick and park in the dirt turnaround. Be careful as it is near the ocean with cliffs all around.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 4H30M, Edinburgh – 5H16M, Glasgow – 5H21M, Inverness – 2H16M
• Can you stay here? Wildcamping is okay (we did it)
• Should you visit? Yes, but don’t make this be your only destination, add in the NC500 and the other castles in the far north!
• Extra Nugget: Built in the 1100s, this is one of the oldest castles in Scotland.

History

Castle of Old Wick is a 12th century square four-story tower castle situated on a narrow bit of land extending into the North Sea. This was a very well-defended castle with three of its sides being butted up against 100-foot sheer cliffs straight to the ocean below. After some back and forth with different families, the castle went completely unused and abandoned by the 18th-century. 

Over the years, the seaward side has seen much decay, yet some features do still prevail: narrow slits for windows, fireplace on the 2nd floor, and shelves for wood to be placed for flooring. 

Visiting

This castle in Scotland was a bit of a surprise for us. We were on the last leg of our NC500 road trip and was looking for a place to park up for the night and Heather found this castle on maps.me. Since we love castles in Scotland and love wild camping, it just seemed so perfect to marry up the two. We got in late so we weren’t able to explore Castle of Old Wick, but once the morning came, we quickly got ready to explore the castle.

Opinion

We probably wouldn’t drive from Edinburgh just to see Old Wick, but if you’re already going to be in the area, most certainly add this castle to your list!

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe – Wick KW1 4QT, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Enter through a gate and walk a flat 1/2 mile through the field/dirt road as you approach the castle. Handicap accessible.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 4H43M, Edinburgh – 5H24M, Glasgow – 5H30M, Inverness – 2H22M
• Can you stay here? Wildcamping is okay (we did it)
• Should you visit? Yes, one of our favorite ruined castles in Scotland. A long trek to get to, though, but worth it.
• Extra Nugget: There are two castles on the site. Castle Girnigoe (15th-century) and Castle Sinclair (17th-century).

History

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe was once an unconquerable medieval stronghold built in the 15th and 17th centuries–two different castles. It is a 5-story L-plan crow-stepped gabled tower house that sits atop a rocky point extending into Sinclair Bay. It was requested by George Sinclair to have the Scottish Parliament changed the castles name to just Castle Sinclair, however, since both Castle Sinclair and Castle Girnigoe had been written down in 1700, the names together has stuck ever since.

After the Battle of Altimarlach in 1680, the castle was left in such ruins that it was never inhabited again.

The Sinclair Castle Trust has put forth extensive work to keep the ruined castle from decaying further. With its improvements and handicap accessibility, it’s now the most striking and accessible set of ruins in the Scottish North. And we would have to agree with that!

Visiting

It’s crazy to think this castle is free to enter and explore, even being able to walk up to the top to see all the views around. It must have an extensive donation fund. But it is the only Scottish castle that is part of the World Monuments Fund. So that might also be why they can offer such an incredible castle and do it up so well and not require an entrance fee!

Opinion

This castle in Scotland is certainly one of our most favorite castles in Scotland. It has ridiculous layered rocks building up the foundation and walls of the castle, incredible views looking out into the North Sea, thousands of birds living within the cliffs, and its thoughtful accessibility features give such a welcoming feel.

We recommend this castle a thousand times. Even though it is about 5 hours from each major city in Scotland, excluding Inverness, we could convince ourselves to make the trip to this castle on our short vacation or holiday to Scotland any day!

Castle Stalker – Appin PA38 4BL, United Kingdom

• Open: Can view the castle year-round. Do a limited run of tours from April-September.
• Prices: Unknown. Contact the castle for more details.
• Access: 25 miles north of Oban on the west side of Scotland. See it from Castle Stalker View (a cafe with a short walk to a viewpoint)
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 4H4M, Edinburgh – 2H57M, Glasgow – 2H18M, Inverness – 2H18M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes
• Extra Nugget: Ownership passed from Clan MacDougall to Clan Campbell in 1620 over a measly drunken bet.

History

Castle Stalker is a 4-story tower house built around 1440. Over the centuries, ownership of the castle had passed back and forth between the Macdougall’s and Campbell’s. However, in 1840 it was abandoned and lost its roof.

The castle was fully restored in 1965 and is currently under private ownership.

Visiting

Castle Stalker is a popular castle but didn’t make it onto either of the lists above. However, it could easily be an honorable mention on both. It’s fairly easy to get to, it’s fairly unique being that it is set on a small island on Loch Laich, and it’s really for taking good pictures with its picturesque background.

During the summer months, the castle is open to the public on a limited number of days for tours out to the castle, of which can be arranged in advance by contacting the operators yourself through their website contact form. Currently, the dates are not updated for the season, so check back regularly if you want to explore Castle Stalker.

If you are looking for a price point for their tour, there is no information on the website. So when you are contacting them about the dates, you should ask about pricing too.

One of the best ways to view this castle in Scotland is via the Castle Stalker View cafe and walking out on a small path to get a panoramic view of the Argyll area. Also, another great spot to view Castle Stalker is off the road A828 on the road that peels out of the small village of Appin called Tyneribbie. Pull off on the side of the road with your telephoto lens to get some amazing pics of the castle and surrounding area!

Opinion

We like this castle and therefore, suggest this as a castle for you to check out. Although we didn’t schedule a private tour, I’m sure the tour would be nice and informative. Let us know if you find yourself here and do the tour, we’d love to know for the next time we are in Scotland!

Finlarig Castle – Killin FK21 8TB, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Park on Pier Road at the carpark and walk to the castle just a couple of minutes.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H45M, Edinburgh – 1H46M, Glasgow – 1H26M, Inverness – 2H24M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? One of our favorites. Never saw another visitor. You can climb around the castle and its grounds. Go Here!
• Extra Nugget: As legend has it, a stone-lined pit at the castle’s north wall was used for beheading prisoners of noble blood.

History

Finlarig Castle is an early 17th-century Z-plan tower house that stands upon a mound near Loch Tay just north of Killin, Scotland. It was one of the primary castles in Scotland for the Campbells of Glenorchy.

Visiting

There is a chapel/mausoleum located on-site that is in much decay. However, it is still really neat and fun to explore!

This castle in Scotland is free to visit and open year-round.

Opinion

Finlarig Castle is a really neat medieval castle that we for some reason love. We explore this place on a few different occasions and even had a picnic within its castle walls. It is a bit out of the way from most places, but you can easily attach this castle to a road trip itinerary in Scotland if you are heading north or to the west coast. It’s just up to you, but know that we do highly-recommend checking out this old ruined medieval Scottish castle.

Taymouth Castle – H2P7+QJ Kenmore, Aberfeldy, United Kingdom

• Open: Closed to the public?
• Prices: Unknown
• Access: Drive along the A827 highway and get an aerial view of the castle or drive to it if it is open.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H426M, Edinburgh – 1H54M, Glasgow – 1H48M, Inverness – 2H6M
• Can you stay here? Maybe in the future…
• Should you visit? Only if you are already driving by.
• Extra Nugget:  The castle is planned to be turned into a luxury hotel. The completion date is unknown.

History

Taymouth Castle is a much newer castle than most on this post. It was constructed in 1806 after the Clan Campbell demolished the previous 16th century Balloch Castle that once stood in its place as the seat for the clan. At a no expense spared mentality, the lavish Taymouth Castle is one of the most important privately owned castles in Scotland which follows the neo-Gothic style.

Visiting

With the castle currently undergoing a reconstruction project and some controversies going on with the general contractor who is leading the project, it doesn’t seem like the castle is open to the public. However, seeing the castle as you are driving down the A827 from or to Castle Menzies (where the picture is taken) may be of interest to you…it was for us! The castle also has a golf course on its 450 acres, but appears to be closed as well!

Opinion

Don’t go out of your way to see this castle, however, when driving by, it is a must to pull over and see the incredible building from an aerial perspective. You may be able to drive directly up to the castle gate if you wish. But getting onto the property may be tricky. If this is a castle you really want to checkout, email them at info@taymouthcastleresidences.com to see when an expected open date will be.

Castles that are also in the Highlands, but listed elsewhere:

Abergeldie Castle, Braemar Castle, Brodie Castle, Eilean Donan Castle

Castles near Edinburgh Scotland

Balhousie Castle – Hay Street The Black Watch Castle & Museum, Perth PH1 5HR, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round with variable opening times.
• Prices: Start at £11.00
• Access: In Perth, Scotland on one of the main roads in town.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H40M, Edinburgh – 0H57M, Glasgow – 1H6M, Inverness – 2H11M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes, if you are interested in history and artifacts.
• Extra Nugget: Grab an afternoon tea in their cafe shop on site!

History

Balhousie Castle is located in the region of Scotland called Perth & Kinross in the city of Perth specifically. It is just a 57-minute drive north of Edinburgh and can be an easy day trip of out the capital if you wish to visit and explore this castle and learn a bit of history.

One great thing about this castle is that it is a museum too. It is called the Black Watch Castle & Museum. In this building, there are artifacts from the oldest highland regiment stored there along with other wartime supplies from World War I, World War II, and the Iraq war.

Visiting

They are open every day from 9:30 to 4:30 in the summer and 10:00 to 4:00 in the winter and tickets can be purchased to enter the facility or online. Ticket prices are as follows: Adult (age 17 – 59) GBP £8.50 each, Child (age 5 – 16) GBP £3.50 each, Infant (age 0 – 4) Free, Senior (age 60 – 99) GBP £6.50 each. 

If you need a quick break, stop in their cafe and grab a coffee and something to eat too.

Opinion

Balhousie Castle isn’t necessarily at the top of our list of castles in Scotland to see and explore. However, since it is a museum too, it might be a great option for those history buffs who want a little more knowledge. For us, we are not that way and would rather have more of an adventure getting to and finding the castle.

So if you are in the area, like we were, might as well go and check it out. But don’t go out of your way to check this one off of your list, you might be a little disappointed. But then again, if museums and history are your things, taking an hour’s drive north of Edinburgh might be perfectly worth your while for this castle because you can see many more along the way.

Balvaird Castle – Cupar KY14 7SW, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Easy access from the car park. Walk up the dirt road past some sheep and be at the castle in 3-minutes.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H45M, Edinburgh – 0H48M, Glasgow – 1H9M, Inverness – 2H22M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes, easy access and free.
• Extra Nugget: Climb around the ruined rocks and rubble.

History

Balvaird Castle is a perfectly good example of a well maintained 1500s tower house located just outside of Edinburgh in Perthshire. It is owned by an American entrepreneur, maintained by Historic Scotland, and can be accessed year-round.

Visiting

Although the grounds are open for exploring and walking at all times, being able to explore the actual castle interior is only possible during certain days of the year (according to Wikipedia). However, according to Historic Environment Scotland, the public can only view the exterior of Balvaird Castle, which is completely free.

This castle in Scotland is quite easy to get to and access. Whether you are driving from Edinburgh or staying near, this is a great castle to come and check out. From the carpark, it is just a short 3-minute walk up to the castle through a gated entrance. You then walk past a small pasture of sheep and are then greeted by this well-maintained castle residence that housed Lords and Baronies for centuries.

The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. Lush green grass on the backside of the property in their would-be garden and orchard. There are also great ruined stones that are neat to check out and even climb on if you have little ones with you.

Opinion

We highly recommend exploring this Scottish castle whether you are alone, with a plus one, or even in a group of people. It’s just great for the whole family. There is something for everyone here! We also highly recommend Balvaird Castle because there are not that many people who go here. Mostly dog walkers and other locals.

While we were here, we only saw two locals with their dogs and as we were leaving one other family was arriving–not sure if they were locals too, or tourists/travelers. So definitely not that popular, yet, therefore, get here and check it out before it becomes too commercialized–and potentially have to pay to enter!

Edinburgh Castle – Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round. Pre-booking recommended unless you’re a pass holder.
• Prices: Start at £15.50. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: You can’t miss it. Located high up above Edinburgh. Most features are handicap accessible.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H35M, Edinburgh – 0H0M, Glasgow – 1H5M, Inverness – 3H8M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Maybe! It’s super expensive. Tons of other great castles in Scotland exist. Extremely touristy. But if you’re interested in Scottish royal history, museums, well done up scenes, Edinburgh’s oldest building, and the Honours of Scotland (Britain’s oldest crown jewels). Then go ahead, especially if you have a member pass.
• Extra Nugget: The most besieged place in the UK.

History

Edinburgh Castle is positioned on castle rock which is a volcanic plug that has held the castle fortress for centuries. It has been documented that castle rock has been occupied since the Iron Age. Castle Rock was a place or royal residence from the 12th-century and transitioned to a military barracks and garrison in the 17th century.

For 1100 years, the castle had seen a total of 26 sieges–being one of the most assaulted sites in the world and the most attacked location in the United Kingdom.

Visiting

To visit this incredible castle in Scotland, you must pre-book your tickets by choosing a time and day you want to explore. If you are unable to plan this to a tee like us. We recommend purchasing the Historic Scotland membership pass so you get priority. You can enter any day and time you wish with that pass. And this one castle is nearly half the price of the whole pass. So it’s worth your while if you’re planning on going here and other Historic Scotland castles sites!

The castle is open year-round from 1 April to 30 September 9.30 am to 6 pm daily and from 1 October to 31 March 9.30 am to 5 pm daily.
The last entry is always 1-hour before closing.

They recommended setting aside 2-hours for viewing the castle and to double-check museum times as they may differ from the castle open times. If you want to make sure you see everything check out their schedule for seeing the castle.

If you want a tour, check for when an Edinburgh Castle tour is happening here.

Opinion

For us, this was a hard castle to go and explore. We are pretty cheap and the single ticket price scared us away a bit. We are also not museum-goers, we do not follow the tourist crowds (70% of leisure visitors see the castle when coming to Edinburgh), and we were always doing other things when we went to Edinburgh. Therefore we just always avoided seeing Edinburgh castle.

However, on our last visit to Edinburgh, we had an active Historic Environment Scotland membership pass. We didn’t want it to go to waste, so we said what the heck and went.

It’s a neat castle in Scotland. There is a ton to see and do at Edinburgh Castle and we certainly didn’t do it all. But the main highlights for us were seeing the Honours of Scotland, walking into St. Margaret’s Chapel, and taking in the 360˚ views of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is a pretty city and being able to see Calton Hill, Arthur’s Seat, the ocean, and some munros all from the castle made it something else.

Loch Leven Castle – Pier Rd, Kinross KY13 8UF, United Kingdom

• Open: April – October
• Prices: Start at £10.00. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: Take a small ferry boat out to the island. Castle is 30m from boat pier on the island. The grassy slope can get muddy.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H56M, Edinburgh – 0H43M, Glasgow – 1H0M, Inverness – 2H36M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes. It has a unique approach, great history, and it’s beautifully placed on an island on a loch.
• Extra Nugget: Mary, Queen of Scots was held here as a prisoner and was forced to abdicate as queen in favor of her son, James VI.

History

Lochleven Castle 13th-century castle stronghold tower house located on an island on Loch Leven. It was in the hands of Clan Douglas for its 300-year occupancy.

The castle fell to ruin by the 18th-century and passed through the hands of a few families until it was taken over by state care in 1939. Today the castle is owned and operated by Historic Environment Scotland and is a scheduled monument.

Visiting

To guarantee a spot for getting to and seeing this wonderfully located and shocking history of a castle. You will need to book your ferry boat online–you do not have to–but it is highly recommended by Historic Scotland! They have a short schedule even during the summer, so if demand is high, you may be only viewing the castle from the shoreside.

Loch Leven Castle is open from 1 April to 30 September daily, 10 am to 4.15 pm (last outward sailing) and from 1 to 31 October daily, 10 am to 3.15 pm (last outward sailing). The castle is closed from 1 November to 31 March.

Ticket prices are slightly more expensive compared to other Historic Scotland sites. However, this does include your ferry ticket over to the castle and back.

Historic Scotland Member/Explorer Pass holder: FREE, Adult: £9.00, Child aged 5–15: £5.40, Child under 5: FREE, and Concession (older than 60+ or unemployed- must provide proof): £7.20.

Unfortunately, we came to this castle in Scotland after the season had come to a close and we didn’t get the opportunity to explore the castle grounds and castle directly. However, we did get some pretty great views of the castle from the shore and did enjoy the county park that the castle is located in.

Opinion

If you are feeling ambitious, then you can walk around the entire loch while you are there. Its something like a half marathon.

But, anyway, seeing this castle any time of year is great. But we would recommend booking early and plan on arriving sometime between April and October to be able to see the small island castle of Lochleven!

Rosslyn Castle – B7003, Roslin EH25 9PX, United Kingdom

• Open: Private – Rent it out. Grounds are open year-round.
• Prices: Prices do vary and increase during summer.
• Access: Just down the hill behind Rossyln Chapel. Walk via the road and over the bridge to the castle.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H31M, Edinburgh – 0H27M, Glasgow – 0H58M, Inverness – 3H6M
• Can you stay here? Yes
• Should you visit? Only if you are wanting to see the famous chapel or want to stay in a castle in Scotland.
• Extra Nugget: The chapel, on the same grounds as the castle, has been featured in Dan Brown’s bestselling book, The DaVinci Code. Making connections with the Knight’s Templar and the Holy Grail.

History

Rosslyn Castle is a 14th to 17th-century built castle located in a forested glen just south of Edinburgh. It has been in the ancestral home of the St. Clair family. Much damage occurred to the castle during General Monk’s attack with Cromwell’s troops in 1650. The castle was left haggard and dilapidated A restoration process began in the 1900s and began offering holiday lets in 1985.

Visiting

This castle in Scotland would be a fantastic place to rent out and stay in. The castle sleeps 6 people and is quoted at £26/night/person if you stayed 4 nights. So get a group of people to come to Scotland with you so you can stay in this lovely castle in Scotland.

If we knew about that option here, I think we would have tried to organize a stay.

Opinion

But if you are not interested in seeing the now made famous chapel from the book, The DaVinci Code. We would say missing this castle all together wouldn’t be too bad. There are not very many good angles to view the castle.

It is set in a glen with trees, which makes it quite neat, however, all you can observe is the bridge and some ruins–not the actual castle.

Anyways, it kind of feels awkward spying in on the guests of the castle when you are trying to get a good view of Rosslyn Castle.

St Andrews Castle – The Scores, St Andrews KY16 9AR, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Start at £8.00. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: In the heart of St. Andrews, park at any public parking lot and walk to the castle.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H37M, Edinburgh – 1H20M, Glasgow – 1H34M, Inverness – 2H55M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? St. Andrews as a town is awesome. Great history as being the birthplace of golf and there is an epic castle in town too. Of course, check it out!
• Extra Nugget: St Andrews Castle was also a notorious prison that had a bottle dungeon (a cell held underground). You can still enter to this day. See it in the video here or watch from the beginning here.

History

St Andrews Castle as it sits today is a 15th-century ruin sitting on a rocky promontory overlooking the North Sea. However, there has stood a castle at this site since 1200. This castle housed three kings, James I, James II, and James III and has been an important and wealthy landmark for the religious leaders of the day.

St Andrews Castle, throughout the Middle Ages, was the formal residence of Scotland’s bishop and archbishop. The sheer dimension of St Andrews Castle brought in the power and wealth of these influential clergymen.

Visiting

One of St Andrews Castles’ most distinctive trait is that of being a prison. The castle, to this day, has a bottle dungeon that you can access and explore.

Do you dare to enter?

The bottle dungeon is a dank and airless hole cut into the ground with only one entry point. We went in and it was eerie.

To access this bottle dungeon and castle in Scotland, you can come any day of the year. Just make sure it’s between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm from April to September and between 10 am and 4 pm from October to March.

If you haven’t already decided on purchasing a Historic Scotland membership pass, then you can double up on entry if you are considering exploring St Andrews Cathedral as well.

Opinion

Scone Palace – Perth PH2 6BD, United Kingdom

• Open: March 29 – October 31
• Prices: Start at £18.50. 15% discount with Treasure Ticket Bundle.
• Access: Drive in on A93. Park in their carpark and start exploring. It’s all flat and maintained.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H40M, Edinburgh – 1H0M, Glasgow – 1H12M, Inverness – 2H18M
• Can you stay here? Not at the castle itself, however at their self-catered cottages.
• Should you visit? An easy one to check off if you’re in the area and if you purchased the Treasure Ticket.
• Extra Nugget: One of the finest examples of the late Georgian Gothic style in the United Kingdom.

History

Scone Palace is originally a 12th-century building, but it was rebuilt in the 19th century to prepare for a visit from the Queen and Prince at the time.

Visiting

Scone Palace is open daily from 1 April – 31 October with some exceptions for events. May – September, gates open at 9.30 am with the last admission at 5.00 pm. March, April, and October, gates open at 10.00 am with the last admission at 4.00 pm.

If you are interested in hiring this place out for your wedding or corporate event, you can get further information here. Also, if you are looking to stay in one of their 5-star self-catered accommodations, check out their page here.

Opinion

Scone Palace is a place we stopped at on a whim when we were driving by. It was late, so we didn’t get the chance to explore the interior. However, the exterior is exquisite and it gives just enough away to make you want to come back and see its inside (Sorry we didn’t snap a pic).

We would highly recommend visiting if you are already considering visiting a couple of the other castles in Scotland that are on the Treasure Ticket Bundle (Blair Castle & Glamis Castle). Otherwise, you could probably just leave it off the exploring list as it is a bit pricey compared to some of the other castles we included.

Castles near Glasgow Scotland

Bothwell Castle – Castle Ave, Uddingston, Bothwell, Glasgow G71 8BL, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Start at £3.00. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: Just outside of Glasgow in a suburb along the River Clyde.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H40M, Edinburgh – 0H54M, Glasgow – 0H22M, Inverness – 3H10M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? A lovely restored castle with an extensive history with England. Yes!
• Extra Nugget: Check if it’s still under construction before you go!

History

Bothwell Castle is a grand medieval castle situated high above the River Clyde just about 10-miles south-east of Glasgow. It is a 13th-century castle that played significant roles in the War’s of Independence for Scotland, which changed hands multiple times. It has beautiful round towers on two corners of the castle with large curtain walls enclosing the courtyard within. Scottish archaeologist William Douglas Simpson once wrote that Bothwell Castle was one of the “foremost secular structures of the Middle Ages in Scotland”. How cool is that?!

Visiting

You can visit this castle year-round with varying opening times throughout the year. They are closed 4-days a year: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and January 2nd. All other opening days are as follows: 1 April to 30 September: Daily, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm with last entry 5 pm and 1 October to 31 March: Daily except Thursday and Friday, 10 am to 4 pm Last entry 3:30 pm.

As of right now construction/maintenance has completed on a portion of the ruins (the donjon turnpike stair). However, what is restricting access to the site is covid.

Historic Scotland is offering a discounted price for entry to the site. Therefore, their admission prices are as follows: Historic Scotland Member/Explorer Pass holder: FREE, Adult: £3.00*, Child aged 5–15: £1.80*, Child under 5: FREE, and Concession (older than 60+ or unemployed- must provide proof): £2.40*.

This castle in Scotland is not one to stay at, however, finding a place in Glasgow would be your best bet as you would be near everything the city has to offer. If the city is not your style, then choosing an AirBnB or regular BnB on the outskirts of the city near Bothwell Castle in Blantyre or Hamilton could be your forte.

Because we were in our van, we stayed quite close to the castle in its carpark. We woke up early and were the first ones in the castle. And had it all to ourselves.

Opinion

We enjoyed this castle in Scotland as it was partly ruined and had a great history. One thing that we can recommend is trying to watch some or all of the Starz tv show, Outlander. Because this castle has so much history about the independence of Scotland and being taken over by the English and switching hands many times, you can gain a lot of appreciation for what was going on during that time after having watched the historical fiction show, Outlander.

Culzean Castle – Maybole KA19 8LE, United Kingdom

• Open: March 28th through October 25th
• Prices: Start at £7.00 for the country park and the castle starts at £17.00. Free for National Trust for Scotland members.
• Access: Drive down a long winding forest road and park in front of the farm shop and restaurant
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 3H47M, Edinburgh – 1H58M, Glasgow – 1H7M, Inverness – 4H12M
• Can you stay here? Yes, at The Eisenhower at Culzean Castle Hotel
• Should you visit? The lovely castle is set above the cliffs and overlooks the mountainous Scottish islands. Truly magical. Add it to your list.
• Extra Nugget: Was General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s holiday residence from 1945-1969. And 7 ghosts live here.

History

Culzean Castle is a fairly new castle having been built in the 18th-century. Its floor plan is an L-plan shape and was designed to be a country home to seat the 10th Earl of Cassilis. It is set up on a beautiful cliff on over 600 hectares of land–they call it the Country Park.

In 1945, the current family residing in the castle gifted the castle to the National Trust for Scotland to avoid any inheritance taxes. One stipulation on this gift was that General Dwight D. Eisenhower was given the top residence apartment in recognition for his role during World War II as commander of the Allied Forces.

Visiting

Now, if you wish to stay at the Culzean Castle, you can do so in Eisenhower’s private apartment hideaway at the top of the castle. You can enjoy perfect panoramic views all around, seeing the mountains on the Isle of Arran and the coastline for miles in each direction.

This accommodation is considered a luxury. You’ll experience that from the moment you arrive. From entering the hotel in the 1920s restored elevator to the fine dining to Robert Adam’s Oval Staircase to staying the very same room that Eisenhower and his guests did. You are sure to have a grand experience while staying at The Eisenhower at Culzean Castle.

Culzean also offers wedding packages and corporate hire events packages.

Culzean has quite an extensive schedule and price chart, so please check it out on their website here.

Opinion

We were skeptical of this castle before arriving, thinking it was going to be just too overdone up. And although it was very true to that preconceived notion, we kinda enjoyed it. A lot is going on with their massive country park, the huge parking lot for tour group buses and personal cars, and the farm shop and restaurant on site. But the castle itself is something different from that of your normal 14th-century tower houses. It just seems like a massive mansion by the sea and an ancient castle at the same time. The landscaping is done to a T and its accessibility on foot is perfect for anyone–disabled or not.

In summary, I’d say if you are into luxury and wanting something a little different from every other castle in Scotland, well then here you go… especially if you have already purchased a Historic Scotland pass and will be in this area.

Doune Castle – Castle Hill, Doune FK16 6EA, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: £10.00 for a single adult. Free with Historic Scotland Membership.
• Access: Close to both Glasgow and Edinburgh in the Stirling area. 300 meter walk to castle from carpark. Steep grade up to the castle.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H21M, Edinburgh – 1H10M, Glasgow – 0H45M, Inverness – 2H41M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes. Especially if you’re a Monty Python fan.
• Extra Nugget: Monty Python and The Holy Grail was filmed here in 1974.

History

Doune Castle is a late-14th-century medieval stronghold that saw extensive use. It first was the property of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, however, after the death of his son, Doune Castle was passed over to the crown and was used as a dower house and hunting lodge. The castle played roles in Wars of the Three Kingdoms and the Jacobite Risings.

After this, the castle fell to ruins, passed over to state care, and was restored in the 20th-century–now being owned and operated by Historic Environment Scotland.

Visiting

If you’d like to visit Doune Castle, you can do so any day of the year from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm April 1st through September 30th and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm October 1st through March 31st. They are, though, closed December 25th & 26th and January 1st & 2nd.

The castle’s admission prices are as follows: Free for Members/Explorer Pass holders, Adults £9.00, Child aged 5-15: £5.40, Child under 5: FREE, and Concession: £7.20.

Doune Castle has been a hot castle in the movie/tv show biz. Doune was the primary shooting location in Monty Python and The Holy Grail because the producers couldn’t gain more access to other castles in Scotland while they were shooting. And in the Outlander, Dounce castle had been the stand-in for the fictitious castle of Castle Leoch.

Opinion

Because this castle in Scotland is relatively close to both Edinburgh and Glasgow and most people visiting the country will inevitably enter via one of these two cities. Doune Castle would be an easy castle to go see and explore. An easy add-on to Stirling Castle or a road trip north in Scotland.

So we would recommend exploring this castle in Scotland, especially if you are an Outlander or Monty Python fan!

Dunaverty Castle – Southend-on-Sea, Campbeltown PA28 6RX, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Drive to the end of the peninsula to Southend and park in the golf course parking lot. Walk .4 miles to the rock on a flat golf course track.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 5H42M, Edinburgh – 4H12M, Glasgow – 3H20M, Inverness – 5H3M
• Can you stay here? No, but there is a guest house adjacent to the castle rock
• Should you visit? Only if you are interested in its history
• Extra Nugget: The castle no longer exists, just the rock it once stood upon.

History

Dunaverty Castle no longer exists, only the natural rock protruding out of the ocean on which it stood still endures. Dunaverty Castle was thought to have existed as far back as the 8th-century. For 400 years after, there is little known about the castle until 1248 where English records begin to tell a story. In 1263, King Haakon IV of Norway besieged the castle. It fell and was given away. The king’s mission had floundered at the Battle of Largs which has a connection with Castle Stalker.

Visiting

To explore this castle site, you will have to drive a bit from most places. Once you arrive at the parking area on the golf course, you can walk along the path to the edge of the coastline, just .4 miles away. It’s an easy walk, just watch out for that strong wind.

Stand and marvel at was once a thriving castle perched atop the protruding rock in the sea and imagine accessing the castle over an ancient castle drawbridge.

The grounds are open year-round and are free.

Do you want to stay here? Well then, stay adjacent to the old castle in the self-catered Dunaverty Rock Guest House.

Opinion

This is the only castle site we visited in all our time in Scotland that didn’t have even a single stone still standing from the original structure–but that didn’t stop up from seeing it. We at first were kind of taken aback when we couldn’t find the castle, however, once doing a little research after the fact, everything began to make sense.

So don’t go out of your way to just see a rock with no castle on it. But if history is your thing, you’re looking for a wee adventure, and you want some incredible scenery, then go ahead and add it to your Scottish castle experience!

Dunollie Castle – Dunollie House, Oban PA34 5TT, United Kingdom

• Open: April to November
• Prices: Start at £10.00
• Access: Drive up their driveway and explore the castle and its grounds.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H48M, Edinburgh – 4H12M, Glasgow – 2H18M, Inverness – 2H54M
• Can you stay here? No, however, Oban is close and a lovely fishing village to find a BnB.
• Should you visit? Yes, a lovely tour and incredible views.
• Extra Nugget: Been around since the 700s.

History

Dunollie Castle has records of a fortification where it stands today as far back as the 700s and the Lords of Lorn, who called this outlook home, ruled over large areas of Argyll for most of the Early Middle Ages.

Dunollie Castle is largely a ruined tower that was built in the 15th-century and has been the seat and ancestral home to the Clan MacDougall since the 17th-century.

For its preservation, there has been a trust set up named The MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust.

Visiting

To visit Dunollie Castle, you can drive into Oban and go a couple of miles north on the coast drive. They are usually open from April 1st through October 31st Mon-Sat 10-5 and Sundays 12-5, and from November 1st through the 24th Tues-Sat 11-3. These dates and times are from their 2019 schedule, so check their website for a more up to date schedule if you are adding Dunollie to your castle list.

Admission to the Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds will cost:

Adult (16 – 59):………………£13.00

Child (5 – 15):……………….£6.00

Under 5:………………………Free

Concessions*:………………£11.00

Family (2 Ad + 2 Ch)……..£30.00

Opinion

Oban itself is such a lovely village that you should add to your trip, so adding Dunollie Castle to your itinerary is just a no-brainer. However, if you are planning on purchasing a membership pass to Historic Scotland or the National Trust for Scotland, then you could probably leave this castle off your list and save a few pounds. But we did like the castle and its views from up top.

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Start at £7.50. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: Just outside of Oban to the north. Park and walk a flat 200m to the castle on a gravel road. Enter the castle up 26 steps.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H52M, Edinburgh – 2H50M, Glasgow – 2H17M, Inverness – 2H48M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes. This place is a true stronghold fortress of a place and it is so well preserved.
• Extra Nugget: Robert the Bruce captured the castle in 1308.

History

Dunstaffnage Castle is a 13th century stronghold which makes Dunstaffnage one of Scotlands oldest stone castles in Scotland. It was built by clan MacDougall lord of Lorns and held by them till the 15th century when it was taken over by the clan Campbell.

Today it is up kept and managed by Historic Scotland. Also, to this day there is a Hereditary Captain of Dunstaffnage, which means a person who is responsible for its defense. The only duty the person must do to keep their title is to stay at the castle three nights a year. The person also gets a salary for this title and has no other responsibilities.

Visiting

To explore Dunstaffnage, you may arrive at any time of the year. The castle is open from April 1st to September 30th from 9:30 to 5:30 daily and from October 1st to March 31st, from 10 am to 4 pm daily. Also, make sure to explore the free section of the castle grounds and the chapel that lies within the woods 150m from the castle.

The castle’s admission prices are as follows: Free for Members/Explorer Pass holders, Adults £6.00, Child aged 5-15: £3.60, Child under 5: FREE, and Concession: £4.80.

Opinion

This is a neat castle in Scotland that is perched upon a rock that is on an outcropping just off the water. The castle incorporates its strategic stronghold based on part of the rock it was built. We recommend checking this castle out and its 13th-century chapel as part of your road trip around Scotland. Or if you are accessing this place via public transportation, you can choose to take a bus as well. Either way, get yourself this amazing castle.

Dunure Castle – Dunure, Ayr KA7 4LW, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Park in county park parking lot and walk down to the castle. Enter at your own risk.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 3H30M, Edinburgh – 1H52M, Glasgow – 1H2M, Inverness – 4H0M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Easy free castle to see just south of Glasgow. So yeah if you’re wanting to head into the Dumfries & Galloway area.
• Extra Nugget: Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here for 3-nights on her trip through the west of Scotland in 1563.

History

Dunure Castle is set in a beautiful location on the west coast of Scotland overlooking the ocean and the Isle of Arran. It is a ruined 15th-century castle that was home to Clan Kennedy.

Since the late 18th century, the castle has been in ruins and has had many sandstone robbings. The castle went through some excavation and consolidation and is now safe to enter and explore.

Visiting

Dunure Castle is free to explore and can be done any day of the year. With it being just over an hour away from Glasgow, this is a great castle to add to your list of castles in Scotland to see near Glasgow. Add it to your list and get a sense of what it was like to live in this once-thriving castle.

Opinion

We surprisingly stumbled upon this castle in Scotland as we were heading south and enjoyed its quaint characteristics. Being able to explore it for free, and stay as long as we wanted was a treat to the whole experience. We have seen many castles in Scotland and this one was a little different for some reason. So add it to your list of ruined castles in Scotland to explore, you may find something that fascinates you when exploring this castle in Scotland.

Stirling Castle – Castle Esplanade, Stirling FK8 1EJ, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Start at £17.50. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: Cobbles and max 180m from carpark with a gradient up to the castle entrance.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H15M, Edinburgh – 0H57M, Glasgow – 0H38M, Inverness – 2H43M
• Can you stay here? No.
• Should you visit? Yes. We didn’t get the chance to but wish we had.
• Extra Nugget: One of the largest and most important castles in Scotland in terms of architecture and historical significance.

History

Stirling Castle is a 15th century castle built on an intrusive hilltop crag called castle hill. Before the union with England, Stirling Castle held much importance with as a palace and fortress. It has housed many Kings and Queens. At least eight sieges took place here and mostly during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The last siege took place when Bonnie Prince Charlie tried to take the castle but came up unsuccessful!

Stirling Castle is a protected scheduled monument and is now in the care of Historic Scotland.

Visiting

In order to visit this castle, you must arrive between 9:30 am and 6 pm from April through September and 9:30 am and 5 pm October through March. The last entry is 45-minutes before close. It is advised to purchase your ticket early or just get yourself a membership pass with HIstoric Scotland.

Opinion

Although we never visited the castle and never snapped a picture of it, we did drive by this castle on the hill quite a few times and were blown away each time. The next time we go to Scotland, we are definitely adding Stirling Castle to our list of castles in Scotland to visit. We believe you should add it to your list too!

Inveraray Castle – Inveraray PA32 8XE, United Kingdom

• Open: April – October
• Prices: Start at £16.50.
• Access: Drive in via A83 and park in the carpark at the castle. Grounds are well maintained and flat!
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H43M, Edinburgh – 2H19M, Glasgow – 1H29M, Inverness – 3H24M
• Can you stay here? Not at the castle itself, however, there are lodges, cottages, houses, & camping pods available nearby.
• Should you visit? Yes. Lovely garden and exterior of the castle.
• Extra Nugget: The castle has been in the family lineage of Clan Campbell since 1493 and still house the 13th Duke and his family.

History

Visiting

Are you considering getting married in Scotland, hire this venue out for your special day.

You can even stay at one of Inveraray Castles’ lodges, cottages, houses, or camping pods (at the local caravan park).

Opinion

Inveraray Castle is a spectacular fairytale castle that truely wows you!

We do highly recommend going to explore this castle in Scotland as it is only 1.5 hours away from Glasgow. There’s a ton of things to do around the castle like hikes/walks, exploring its gardens and grounds, deer stalking, enjoying a tea or traybake in their tearoom.

All in all, this is a great place and we do highly recommend you check it out and even add a few extras that we mentioned to your time at Inveraray Castle in Argyll, Scotland!

Kilchurn Castle – Lochawe, Dalmally PA33 1AF, United Kingdom

• Open: April – September
• Prices: Free
• Access: Park at the carpark just off the A85 and walk the flat .4 miles (8-minutes) to enter the castle.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H18M, Edinburgh – 2H22M, Glasgow – 1H42M, Inverness – 3H6M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? 100% Yes. One of our favorite castles in Scotland, which yields impeccable moody scenes any time of day or year.
• Extra Nugget: It was destroyed by a lightning storm.

History

Kilchurn Castle is a 15th-century ruined L-shape turrets castle situated at the end of a small peninsula jutting into the beautiful Loch Awe. It is conveniently situated between Finlarig Castle in the east, Inveraray Castle to the south, and Dunstaffnage Castle to its west.

Kilchurn Castle was a thriving castle during its time. From the 15th-century to 1760 it was a key point for the dominating cadet branch of the Clan Campbells of Glenorchy. The clan built many castles in the area to further establish their dominance.

The castle is now in a preserved state of ruin and has been since 1760 when a violent storm came through and lightning struck the castle. As a result, you can still see the blown apart turret that landed in the castle’s courtyard. Historic Environment Scotland is now in the care of the site.

Visiting

There are no fees associated with entering this castle. All you need to do is arrive between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm and between April 1st and September 30th. But if you are wanting to see this castle during its closed times, you may do so–the grounds are always open.

Opinion

We highly recommend visiting Kilchurn as it is one of our favorite castles in Scotland and is probably one of the most beautifully placed castles in Scotland in our opinion. And if you can get there during its opening times, then it adds so much more interest to the castle and its history. Just bring a pair of boots or wellies as the ground does get muddy–even in the carpark!

Don’t skip this castle, you won’t regret it!

McCaig’s Tower – Duncraggan Rd, Oban PA34 5DP, United Kingdom

• Open: 24/7
• Prices: Free
• Access: Park in town and walk up the hill following the brown signs.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H48M, Edinburgh – 4H12M, Glasgow – 2H18M, Inverness – 2H54M
• Can you stay here? No, however, Oban is a lovely fishing village to find a BnB in.
• Should you visit? Yes, a lovely tower provides incredible views of Oban below.
• Extra Nugget: Built to provide work for the local stonemasons during the winter months.

History

McCaig’s Tower was built in the late 19th century and was commissioned by the wealthy John Stuart McCaig. The man self-funded and designed the structure! He wanted to provide a lasting monument to his family.

Visiting/Opinion

This is a really neat, relatively new, structure to checkout and explore. It is open 24/7 and is free to view. Although it is not one of the “castles in Scotland”, it still has a neat look and vibrancy that can’t go unmentioned. It dominates the Oban hillside and can be seen from miles away when approaching the village by ferry boat. And when at the top of the hill, you can see three Scottish islands! This is a really neat place that doesn’t fit in as a castle but kind of fits in as an old structure that is free and open year-round to explore! So add it to your list for sure!

Tarbert Castle – Tarbert PA29 6UD, United Kingdom

• Open: 24/7
• Prices: Free, but the castle has a suggested donation of just .50p.
• Access: Park near Tarbert Harbor and climb the steps up to the top of the castle.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 4H35M, Edinburgh – 3H10M, Glasgow – 2H21M, Inverness – 4H8M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes. Slightly further out of the way than the other castles in Scotland near Glasgow. But it is totally worth it!
• Extra Nugget: There is history at this site dating back to the year 712. Also, take a picture with the Hebridean Scottish lawnmowers!

History

Tarbert Castle (also known as The Royal Castle of Tarbert) is a 15th-century structure overlooking Tarbert Harbor with a commanding view over the water access points. There was once three castles at Tarbert, however, Tarbert Castle is the only one still in existence.

King James IV captured the castle in 1494 from the Lord of the Isles to disrupt his power over the isles. Later the castle was seized by Walter Campbell for the 9th Earl of Argyll in support of the Monmouth Rebellion taking place in England.

Now the castle in Scotland is owned by the community members and is completely up kept by volunteers.

Visiting/Opinion

We have a high affection for this castle as it is free, has incredible views, and is open 24/7 to any and all people. Also, there are Hebridean sheep that graze the castle grounds (Scottish lawnmowers) in April and May. We were there when this was taking place and the sheep are just so fascinating to watch!

So add this castle in Scotland to your list even though it is a bit out of the way. The town harbor is extremely pretty to give a nice contrast with the middle age castle on the hill!

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Castles near Inverness Scotland

Brodie Castle – Brodie, Forres IV36 2TE, United Kingdom

• Open: Nearly year-round
• Prices: It starts at £12.00. Free with the National Trust for Scotland Membership.
• Access: Just outside of Inverness. Not easy public transportation.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H51M, Edinburgh – 3H17M, Glasgow – 3H26M, Inverness – 0H35M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes. Check out the castle and its playful gardens.
• Extra Nugget: They have an all-weather play area for the kids to keep them less muddy during those rainier days in Scotland.

History

Brodie Castle is a beautifully turreted castle having been built in 1567, then getting burnt down in 1645. Reconstruction commenced in 1824, but later was remodeled and finished in 1845. It was the home of the Brodie clan for more than 400 years.

The castle is now owned and operated by the National Trust for Scotland. The castle boasts hosting over 100 varietals of daffodils and many other interesting things within the building walls such as artwork, ceramics, and a lengthy library collection of more than 6,000 volumes.

Visiting

Brodie Castle is easy to access with just a 35-minute drive east of Inverness, which will take you into nearly the heart of whisky country. While you’re out exploring castles in Scotland, might as well hit up some whiskey distilleries.

If you want to learn how to do whisky tours for free, check out our post about how here.

Dunrobin Castle – Golspie KW10 6SF, United Kingdom

• Open: March 26 – October 31
• Prices: Start at £14.50
• Access: You may drive, bus, or train directly to the Dunrobin. Explore the castle interior or walk around in grounds and garden.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H15M, Edinburgh – 3H53M, Glasgow – 3H57M, Inverness – 1H6M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes, the photos make it look more fairytale-like than it is in person, however, it’s one of the coolest castles in Scotland!
• Extra Nugget: Most northernly Scottish great house and largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Also, it’s one of the UK’s longest continuously occupied houses going back to the 14th-century.

History

Dunrobin Castle has a very distinct fairytale castle look that is unavoidable. Having been built predominately in the 19th-century, its architectural style is Scottish Baronial crossed with French Renaissance design. Yet, the land with other buildings has existed since the early 13th-century.

The castle in Scotland boasts an extravagantly decorated interior with a frieze of armorials, portraits, 18th-century tapestries, and a grand 10,000 book library. There is also a museum within the castle that houses archeological artifacts, trophy heads of animals from safari’s, and ethnographic items acquired from around the world.

The garden is inspired by French style, taking after the Garden of Versailles and is a manicured space of over 1,300 acres. The garden is listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland and the castle is a category A listed building.

Visiting

If you would like to see this magnificent fairytale-like castle in the north of Scotland then you will need to show up between 1st April – 31st October. Times to visit in April & October are daily 10.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. For May, June, July, August & September, Dunrobin Castle will be open daily 10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Last entry is always a half-hour before closing. The museum is open from 11.00 am until 4.00 pm daily.

You can have the chance to observe a Falconry display daily at 11.30 and 2.30 pm from 1st April until the 30th of September.

2024 Pricing	Castle, Museum, & Garden	Groups
Adult	£14.50	£10.50
Concession	£12.50	£9.50
Children	£9.00	£7.00
Family	£42.00	N/A

Eilean Donan Castle – Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DX, United Kingdom

• Open: February through December. Close the 3-days around Christmas and the month of January.
• Prices: Start at £12.00. All fees include an audio guide
• Access: Located right on the A87 on Loch Duich. Park at the site and walk a short bit to the castle over its bridge to the main castle grounds.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H49M, Edinburgh – 4H4M, Glasgow – 3H58M, Inverness – 1H39M
• Can you stay here? Not at the castle itself, however, there is Eilean Donan Cottage just a few minutes walk from the castle and Eilean Donan Apartments a few minutes drive away.
• Should you visit? Well, it’s the most photographed castle in Scotland, so if you don’t like all the Instagrammers, avoid it. But because it is one of the most photogenic castles in Scotland, you should probably see it because it is that cool!
• Extra Nugget: The most famous and photographed castle in Scotland as it appears on cookie tins, whisky bottles, and other advertisement related products.

History

Eilean Donan Castle is an early 13th-century stronghold for the Clan Mackenzie and their partners Clan MacRae. The Clan Mackenzie joined in the Jacobite Risings which ultimately led to the castle’s demise in the early 18th-century. Government military ships came in and destroyed much of the original castle.

In the early 1900s, John MacRae-Gilstrap led the restoration of Eilean Donan Castle to what it looks like today. Along with all the improvements of the castle like the rebuilding of the bridge and castle walls. MacRae-Gilstrap also built a war memorial at the castle for the fallen Clan MacRae soldiers of Flander’s Field.

Visiting

If you are planning a trip to see Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland, you can see it almost year-round. They are open from February 1st through March 23rd from 10 to 4 pm, March 24th through October 26th 10 to 6 pm, and October 27th through December 30th from 10 to 4 pm. They are Closed the three days around Christmas, the 24th, 25th and 26th, and the whole month of January. Get all your up to date information on winter wedding and inclement weather closures here.

Getting here is easy. You can take a bus or drive. You come in on the A87 and can park in their lollipop parking lot. Once you park, go into the visitor center and purchase your tickets and explore the wonderful grounds and castle of Eilean Donan.

Opinion

We have never been inside this castle as we had already in so many prior so we didn’t feel the need to go in. However, the outside of the castle is stunning and you can get a good appreciation of the castle just from the outside. We had driven by many times and have had to opportunity to photograph this castle from many angles with varying weather and times of the day. I especially like the aerial perspective from the upper road viewpoint behind Eilean Donan Castle. Another nice perspective is from the overnight parking lot across the water.

So if you’re into photography, like popular areas, are kinda into history, and will be in the area for other exploration, then we highly recommend checking this castle out.

Findlater Castle – Portsoy, Banff AB45 2UD, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Park that the carpark and walk a few minutes down the path to the overlook. Flat and easy.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H23M, Edinburgh – 3H29M, Glasgow – 3H39M, Inverness – 1H28M
• Can you stay here? No. Try wilding camping though?
• Should you visit? It’s a really neat castle near one of our favorite Scottish fishing villages and there is a cool natural rock formation called Bowfiddle Rock that is close by. So yes, because other things around it make it worth it!
• Extra Nugget: We couldn’t identify the castle the first time we visited. Now it’s plain as daylight.

History

Findlater Castle was originally built in the 13th-century but to be destroyed and rebuilt in the 14th century. It was originally built to defend off King Haakon IV of Norway, but the Vikings ultimately took the castle for some time in the 13th-century. The rebuilt castle takes after the design of Roslyn Castle that is located just outside of Edinburgh.

Visiting

Findlater is easily accessible from either Aberdeen or Inverness. However, with the extensive castle trail list that is so close to Aberdeen, this castle is slightly an outlier and would be out of your way to go see. Findlater is closer to the other castles near Inverness. Therefore, we recommend adding this castle to your castles around Inverness list.

To view Findlater, you will need to drive on the A98 and park at the carpark. Take about a 5-minutes walk along the path (following the brown signs) and arrive at a plague describing the castle in brief. Imagine what it looked like over 700 years ago and try to see it in general. It’s not as absent as Dunaverty Castle, but it certainly was a challenge to pick out certain details of the ruined castle.

Opinion

We would highly recommend seeing Findlater Castle as it is almost directly between Aberdeen and Inverness. Making it an easy trip from either place if you are using one of these cities as your hub. Findlater is close to our favorite town of Portsoy, which has the best ice cream in the world (in our opinion). It is near Cullen, which has the best soup we have ever tried–Cullen skink. And it’s near the Bow Fiddle Rock formation that is beautiful!

Inverness Castle – Inverness IV2 3EG, United Kingdom

• Open: Nearly year-round. And only the Castle Viewpoint is open to the public.
• Prices: Start at £3.00 for kids 12 and under and adults £5.00. Free to see the exterior and its grounds.
• Access: In downtown Inverness, walk to the castle up the hill and climb the viewpoint or just explore its grounds.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H25M, Edinburgh – 3H4M, Glasgow – 3H8M, Inverness – 0H0M
• Can you stay here? No.
• Should you visit? It’s an easy castle to add. And if you’re already in Inverness then why not, you’ll probably see it from most angles in the city anyways. Also, because of its viewpoint, you can get a 360˚ view of the Highlands capital.
• Extra Nugget: It is Inverness’s current courthouse and prison.

History

Inverness Castle is an early 19th-century castle built of red sandstone overlooking the River Ness. Of which, used to be an 11th-century defense structure.

Visiting

This castle in Scotland is not entirely open to the public. The only open areas are the north tower, which gives a 360˚ panoramic view of the city and its grounds.

To gain access to the viewpoint, you will need to follow this schedule:

Winter Opening Hours (Nov – Mar)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday from 11.30 – 16:00
(Last admission 20 minutes before closing)
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: CLOSED
(Last admission 20 minutes before closing)

Summer Opening Hours (Apr-Oct)
April & May – Open daily from 11.00 – 18.00
June – Open daily from 10.00 – 19.00
July & August – Open daily from 09.00 – 20.00
September & October – Open daily from 11.00 – 18.00
(Last admission 20 minutes before closing)

Prices are set at £5.00 for adults and £3.00 for children 12 and under.

Opinion

This castle isn’t the most interesting or favorable castle to go to and see in Scotland. But being that it is located in the heart of Inverness and you can get an incredible view of the highlands from it–gives it some acclaim. So only if you are already going to be in Inverness, you want some great views, and you’re interested in the history of the physical site. Then that’s when you should consider visiting Inverness Castle in Scotland. Otherwise, just leave it off your list altogether, it’s just not that special!

Strome Castle – Strathcarron IV54 8YJ, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Basically at someone’s home. Park on the driveway and walk out to the castle along a narrow deer-like trail.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H38M, Edinburgh – 4H24M, Glasgow – 4H29M, Inverness – 1H37M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes, especially if you are wanting to do the NC500. It would be on your first day or last depending on the direction you take.
• Extra Nugget: We were befriended by a dog while visiting Strome Castle. Maybe you will too!

History

Strome Castle is a lovely ruined 15th-century castle with an arched window still standing. This castle was under siege by Clan MacKenzie and their allies to overthrow the Clan MacDonald. Once the castle was taken, the MacKenzies blew it up and demolished it.

In 1939 the castle was given to The National Trust for Scotland.

Today the castle still has some stones standing. It is comprised of a square tower and courtyard!

Visiting

If you are planning on visiting only this castle, that may be a bit out of your way. However, this would be a perfect add-on castle to a North Coast 500 Trip or a day trip out to Applecross from Inverness!

Opinion

We really enjoyed seeing this castle in Scotland because of its dramatic scenery and a faithful archway still standing. Don’t go out of your way to see this castle, but if you’ll be in the area anyway, certainly add it to your trip!

Urquhart Castle – Drumnadrochit, Inverness IV63 6XJ, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Start at £14.50. Free for members.
• Access: Drive south out of Inverness and park at the visitor center. Walk down to the castle along the paved path.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 2H43M, Edinburgh – 3H25M, Glasgow – 3H32M, Inverness – 0H32M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Absolutely! It is an incredible ruined castle on Loch Ness!
• Extra Nugget: Visit to see if you can find Nessy!

History

Urquhart Castle is a 13th century castle that has seen a lot of history. It began as an early medieval fortification and went through a bit of destruction. Then Urquhart Castle subsequently got built back up and turned into a royal castle. Ultimately passing through the hands of the Macdonald’s and Grants. In the 20th century the castle was handed over to state care and was recognized as a scheduled monument.

Visiting

Urquhart Castle is one of the most visited castles in Scotland! And rightfully so! You get great views of the Loch Ness. You are able to visit a wonderfully put together exhibition in the visitor center. And not to mention the well-landscaped area outside and inside the castle walls.

The castle is open year-round but the hours of operation vary throughout the year to account for the daylight hours. The cast is open from Apr, May and Sept: Daily, 9.30am to 6pm, Jun to Aug: Open until 8pm, Oct: Daily, 9.30am to 5pm, and from Nov to Mar: Daily, 9.30am to 4.30pm. The last entry is 45 minutes before close.

Opinion

We absolutely love this castle. Not only have we been here two different times and enjoyed it equally on each visit. We love that there are such great views. You can walk around the castle as you wish and you get some great history of the castle and surrounding areas. It’s not a far drive from Inverness and really isn’t that bad of a drive from Aberdeen. There is plenty to add to your trip when you are in the area as well. So it really won’t be too much out of your way for just this castle.

Castles near Aberdeen Scotland

Abergeldie Castle – Ballater AB35 5SY, United Kingdom

• Open: Private
• Prices: N/A
• Access: Park across the river on the highway and observe it from afar.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H21M, Edinburgh – 2H39M, Glasgow – 2H42M, Inverness – 1H48M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Just observe it from the road across the river as you are driving by!
• Extra Nugget: The castle was threatened to collapse due to erosion from the River Dee in 2016.

History

Abergeldie Castle is a 16th century 4-story tower house that has been in the hands of Clan Gordon for over 600 years. That is one of the longest unbroken records of ownership. The castle was sieged in the first Jacobite Rising and during the second rising, it was garrisoned against the Jacobites.

Visiting/Opinion

This is an easy castle to see as you are driving down A93 on your way to see other castles and most notably, the Aberdeenshire castle trail castles in Scotland. Because we had driven by this castle so many times, we never had the opportunity to snap a picture of it. Sorry!

One thing to note, because this is privately owned and still is the residence for the 21st Laird, it is not possible to visit the castle. So just see it from across the river and carry on to your next castle!

Balmoral Castle – Balmoral Estates, Ballater AB35 5TB, United Kingdom

• Open: March 23 – August 11
• Prices: Start at £17.50.
• Access: Along the Aberdeenshire castle trail, drive out A93 and park. Walk around the grounds and castle as you please.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H10M, Edinburgh – 2H25M, Glasgow – 2H29M, Inverness – 1H42M
• Can you stay here? No. But there are self-catered cottages on the estate to choose from.
• Should you visit? Yes, especially if you are into the British Monarch!
• Extra Nugget: This is the castle that Queen Elizabeth II spends some summer holiday every year!

History

Balmoral Castle is a new 19th century baronial style castle. Prince Albert originally purchased the estate in 1852, which had a different castle on it. Balmoral Castle was built because of the original castle on the property was too small, ultimately giving rise to what we see today. The castle is part of a large estate that encompasses wildlife, farm animals, forestry, gardens, and cottages.

Visiting

Balmoral Castle will be open on a daily basis from March 23 until August 11. Opening times are from 10.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. with the last admission being at 4.00 p.m.

The estate can be closed at any time due to the presence of the royal family visiting. But generally, the castle is open from the dates and times listed above.

If staying at the estate fancies you, then you should check out the Balmoral Castle cottages in Scotland

Opinion

Balmoral Castle is a beautiful castle with a wonderful set of grounds to explore. It’s not too far from Aberdeen and is on the Aberdeenshire castle trail which is nice. If you are interested in distilleries and checking them out for free, check out Royal Lochnagar that is just up the road past Balmoral! Overall this is one of the best castles in Scotland because you can get a real sense of the royal lifestyle when exploring.

Braemar Castle – Braemar, Ballater AB35 5XR, United Kingdom

• Open: April-October
• Prices: Starts at £12.00
• Access: Short walk from the car park. Grounds are well maintained.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H23M, Edinburgh – 2H11M, Glasgow – 2H24M, Inverness – 1H54M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? It’s a very nice castle and along the castle trail out of Aberdeen. Most certainly add it to your list!
• Extra Nugget: In the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

History

Braemar Castle was built in 1628 with the purpose of it being a hunting lodge. This castle has extensive history around the 1745 Jacobite rising. The building was left in ruins for nearly 100 years after the uprising and then the military garrison was withdrawn and returned to its clan members.

Braemar Castle is situated in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, yet, it is an easy 1-hour and 23-minute drive from Aberdeen. You can get here by bus, too, if you wish. As you are driving from Aberdeen, you can check off a few different castles in Scotland, some distilleries, a couple of hill walks, and just an overall beautiful road trip out of Aberdeen City.

Visiting

The castle is run by the local community and not apart of any other group like Historic Environment Scotland or National Trust of Scotland. They, too, are closed for the winter but re-open on April 1st. Here are their opening times for 2024:

From Wednesday 1st April – June Open 10 am – 5 pm, Wednesday – Sunday. Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays, July, August & September Open every day, 10 am – 5 pm, First week of September Open Monday – Fri and Sun. Closed Saturday. October Provisionally open 10 am – 5 pm, Wednesday – Sunday Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays. Check the Braemar Castle website for the most up-to-date information. The Castle will be closed on the day of the Braemar Gathering, Saturday 5th September 2024.

Prices to enter Braemar Castle are as follows: Adults £12, Children £5, Family £25, and Students (with I.D.) £10. You can purchase online or at the door.

If you are looking for a place to stay, the village of Braemar is a great option or you can choose to stay in Aberdeen where you have many more options. And if you are in a campervan, you can overnight park in the castle parking lot as we did.

Opinion

This is a really neat castle in Scotland to check out and explore if you are looking for a road trip out of Aberdeen. Although we didn’t get a chance to go inside of it, we spent some time walking around its grounds and the surrounding areas, which we enjoyed! The castle’s features like its turrets are so unique and special, you just have to see them in person!

Castle Fraser – Sauchen, Inverurie AB51 7LD, United Kingdom

• Open: February 1st – December 13th for castle tours and grounds and garden year-round
• Prices: Start at £16.00. Free for National Trust members.
• Access: West of Aberdeen and has a lovely tree-lined driveway.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 0H31M, Edinburgh – 2H42M, Glasgow – 2H57M, Inverness – 2H9M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Most elaborately built z-plan tower house in Scotland… so yes!
• Extra Nugget: One of Scotland’s largest tower houses and has a boastful collection of portraits.

History

Castle Fraser is a 5-story z-plan castle that began construction in 1575, which passed through two master masons and was completed in 1636. The castle was inhabited by Frasers and later the Mackenzie family who adopted the name, Fraser. After one male descendent died and didn’t have children, there was no suitable heir, which put surmounting financial pressure on the wife. She then sold it to the Pearson family in 1921 who then restored it and made it into their hunting lodge.

In 1976, Castle Fraser was donated to the National Trust for Scotland and it has been in their hands ever since. The castle is unique in the sense that you can rent it out as a venue for a wedding, corporate events or other such activities. In 2006, this castle was briefly featured in the movie, The Queen. If you check the castle website, you can see if special events are going on that you may be interested in attending like whisky tasting.

Visiting

Getting to Castle Fraser is very simple from Aberdeen, and once there, the grounds, garden, and parking areas are all well maintained and manicured.

Exploring the castle grounds and garden are open to the public from free year-round. But if you are interested in exploring the inside of the castle, then you need to do some preparation. Castle Fraser recommends planning to avoid unexpected disappointment.

To see the inside of the castle, you must book a tour, unless it’s on a Sunday, then you can do a self-guided tour. You can book your tour online here.

Because this castle is part of the National Trust for Scotland, you can do your tour for free, otherwise, the prices are as follows: adult £16.00, family £26.50, one adult family £31.50, and concession £12.50.

The castles open dates and times are as follows: 1 Feb–29 Mar, Sat & Sun, 11.00–14.00 (guided tours only): 30 Mar–1 Nov, Mon-Sat (guided tours): 10.00–15.00; Sun (open self-guiding): 10.00–16.00, 2 Nov–13 Dec, Sat & Sun, 11.00–14.00 (guided tours only), 14 Dec–5 Feb 2024, closed.

Opinion

This is such a neat and wonderfully built castle in Scotland that you must add it to your list. It didn’t hit our top 10 Best Castles in Scotland list, but it is certainly an honorable mention. From its free gardens and 300 acres of grounds to explore, to its 5-story z-plan castle architecture and portrait collection, you’re sure to be blown away by its charm and grandeur!

Corgarff Castle – 8m W of Strathdon on the A939, Strathdon AB36 8YP, United Kingdom

• Open: April-September
• Prices: Start at £7.50. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: Drive in from A939. Explore the castle and its mockup rooms.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H23M, Edinburgh – 2H51M, Glasgow – 2H56M, Inverness – 1H20M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Maybe. See its remoteness and star-shaped barracks from when it was used as a military base.
• Extra Nugget: Drive up Lecht Road and view the castle from afar. See it through a pinhole in a rock!

History

Corgarff Castle is a 16th-century medieval tower house isolated in the highlands of Scotland just an hour and a half outside of Aberdeen. Corgarff was passed through the hands of many people over the years. In its history, it was used for hunting Jacobite Sympathisers, smuggling whisky, and for some time–a military base.

Visiting

You can visit this castle in Scotland from April 1st through September 30th from the times of 9:30 to 5:30, with the last entry at 5 pm. Because this is part of the Historic Scotland Membership pass, you can visit for free if you are a cardholder, otherwise, prices start at £6.00 for adults.

Opinion

Driving in the Scottish Highlands is one of the best ways to get out and see this majestic country. Therefore, if you are on one of these road trips and happen to drive past this castle as we did, then go check it out. Otherwise, we think this castle can be left off your list altogether.

Craigievar Castle – 57FJ+Q7 Craigievar, Alford, United Kingdom

• Open: Variable days from April to October for guided tours inside. Grounds open year-round.
• Prices: Start at £13.00. Free for National Trust members.
• Access: West of Aberdeen. Park in the carpark. Walk the gravel road about 3 minutes to the castle.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 0H47M, Edinburgh – 2H39M, Glasgow – 2H49M, Inverness – 2H1M
• Can you stay here? Not at the castle itself. Choose one of their castle holiday cottages to stay in.
• Should you visit? Absolutely yes! It’s that famous pink castle in Scotland!
• Extra Nugget: Marvel over its many gargoyles. Closed through spring 2024. Check here for an update.

History

Craigievar Castle is a pinkish 16th century harled tower house castle that was the primary residence of the Forbes family for 350 years. In 1963, the castle was gifted over to the National Trust for Scotland.

Over the years, the castle adopted many artifacts and weapons. As the previous owners wished, no artificial light is on the top floors to give the same feel of viewing the artifacts as it had when they were first produced.

This castle along with many other castles in Scotland owned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) is closed during the winter for deep cleaning. As such, the castle can be in its finest presentation in April when the tourist season begins.

Visiting

Craigievar Castle is open beginning April 3rd through May 31st every Friday through Tuesday from 10:30-4 pm, then from June 1st through September 30th every day from 10:30-4 pm, and October 1st through the 25th on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 to 3 pm.

Prices to enter the castle for a tour are as follows: Adults £13.00, Family £30.00, One adult family £25.00, and Concession £10.00. All NTS members enter for free. And the castle grounds are free to explore, however, parking on the site is not free if you are looking to explore the castle grounds and forgo the castle tour.

Opinion

Craigievar Castle is a pretty neat castle, especially with its icon pink castle outer texture. We didn’t have the NTS membership when we visited this castle and we didn’t visit during the time of year when it was open. But when we explored its grounds, it was cool and we would love to go back to see it again at a different time of year and tach on a tour of the interior too.

With that being said, we think you should add this castle to your castle exploring list, especially if you’re going to be starting in Aberdeen and planning to do the Aberdeenshire castle trail!

Crathes Castle – Crathes, Banchory AB31 5QJ, United Kingdom

• Open: Daily from April 1st through October 31st, weekends through December 31st. Grounds open year-round.
• Prices: Start at £16.00. Free for National Trust members.
• Access: 18 miles west of Aberdeen. Take a car or use public transport and walk about 15 min. from the bus stop on a flat driveway.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 0H33M, Edinburgh – 2H26M, Glasgow – 2H38M, Inverness – 2H22M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes, add it to your castle trail list in Aberdeenshire!
• Extra Nugget: Enjoy a picnic on its grounds in spring when the daffodils are in bloom!

History

Crathes Castle is a 16th-century harled castle that housed the Burnett’s of Leys for nearly 400 years and was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) in 1951. The NTS now owns and manages the castle providing access to the public for most of the year.

Visiting

It is an amazing tower house with intricate turrets, towers, and painted ceilings. Get a taste of it all by going on a tour of the castle spread throughout the day at the top of the hour beginning at 11 am and the last tour at 3 pm.

Adults are £16.00, Family tickets £36.50, One adult family £31.50, and Concession is £12.50. All NTS members enter for free.

Seeing the castle gardens is included with your ticket and parking is free too.

Kids can enjoy the Wild Wood Adventure Play area for £4.00. And enjoy something to eat and drink in the castle’s cafe located onsite.

Check the website to get a better idea of their open/close schedule for the year.

Opinion

This is a nice castle in Scotland to add to your castle trail list while exploring castles in Scotland. It uniquely different do most of the other castles in Scotland and its grounds are very well manicured, making for a perfect spot to have a picnic.

Drum Castle – Drumoak, Banchory AB31 5EY, United Kingdom

• Open: Variable days throughout the year. Grounds open year-round. Check the website for more details.
• Prices: Start at £16.00. Free for National Trust members.
• Access: 13 miles west of Aberdeen. Take a car or use public transport and walk 1-mile from the bus stop on a flat driveway.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 0H32M, Edinburgh – 2H31M, Glasgow – 2H40M, Inverness – 2H30M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes, add it to your castle trail list around Aberdeenshire!
• Extra Nugget: They were completely unaware of a room that had been bricked off until just the last decade. A worker discovered it when some maintenance work.

History

Drum Castle is thought to be one of the three oldest tower houses in Scotland and distinctively unchanged. It was built in the 13th-century and held the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine. The castle has a late 18th-century rose garden and a large arboretum surround the castle grounds.

Visiting

To visit this castle in Scotland you can take bus 201 out of Aberdeen or you can drive. Once you arrive at Drum, you can either walk the easy mile from A93 if you bussed in or park in the carpark adjacent to the castle.

The castle is open on the weekends from 10:30-5 pm from January through March, Thursday through Monday 10:30-4 pm in April and May, open daily from 10:30-4 pm from June through August, Thursday through Monday 10:30-4 pm in September and October, and back to weekends from 11-3 pm in November and December.

The castle is a National Trust for Scotland owned site and therefore, you can visit for free if you are a member, otherwise, pricing for visiting Drum Castle is as follows:

Dunnottar Castle – Stonehaven AB39 2TL, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round with variable times.
• Prices: Start at £10.50.
• Access: 19 miles south of Aberdeen. Take a car or use public transport and walk a 1/2 mile down from the bus stop on the road. Then take a trail with steps down and up to the castle.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 0H28M, Edinburgh – 2H7M, Glasgow – 2H16M, Inverness – 2H32M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes, even though it’s probably one of the most famous castles in Scotland.
• Extra Nugget: The crown jewels of Scotland were hidden from Oliver Cromwell when his army invaded in the 17th-century.

History

Dunnottar Castle is mainly a 15th-century medieval fortress, although parts of the castle were built as early as the 14th-century and some built in the 16th-century. Dunnottar is located atop a rocky cliff headland jutting out into the North Sea and is two miles south of the village Stonehaven.

The castle had played an important role in the Jacobite risings because of its vital location and protective power.

It was dismantled in 1720 and went to ruins over the years. Now it’s marked as a scheduled monument and is owned privately by the Pearson family since 1925. The family put Dunnottar through a series of repairs and is proud to have it open to the public.

Visiting

Dunnottar Castle is easy to get to by car or bus. You can even train there and walk the coastal tourist route up to the castle. The walk is easy to moderate on a maintained path, has about 269 feet of elevation gain for 2.4 miles, and should take about 52 minutes to arrive at the castle if you walk a normal pace.

The castle’s opening times are as follows: Summer Season (1st April – 30th Sep) 9:00 – 17:30 every day. Winter Season (1st October – 31st March) 1st Oct – 26th Oct: 10:00 – 16:30, 27th Oct – 9th Nov: 10:00 – 15:00, 10th Nov – 18th Jan: 10:00 – 14:30, 19th Jan – 1st Feb: 10:00 – 15:00, 2nd Feb – 15th Feb: 10:00 – 15:30, 16th Feb – 29th Feb: 10:00 – 16:00, 1st Mar – 31st Mar: 10:00 – 16:30, and the castle will be closed on the following dates – 18th, 25th & 26th of December and the 1st & 2nd of January.

Opinion

Dunnottar Castle is an awesome castle to visit! It has insane views, great walks around the fortress and nearby too, really neat history (we loved that you explore on your own at your own pace), and it is just so picturesque! Unfortunately, on both occasions we visited, the weather wasn’t that great and didn’t yield good photographs. However, it was still an amazing time and we can highly recommend anyone to visit!

Hallforest Castle – Kintore, Inverurie, AB51 0XR, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Unsure if you can go onto the property to explore because it is private. However, with the Scottish Access code, you should be able to access the castle. Just ask permission if you see anyone–to cover yourself.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 0H23M, Edinburgh – 2H44M, Glasgow – 3H12M, Inverness – 2H7M
• Can you stay here? No.
• Should you visit? If you are already planning on doing the Aberdeenshire castle trail, then I would highly recommend adding this one to your list as it free and it’s a neat castle in ruins.
• Extra Nugget: It’s a keep, which is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages.

History

Hallforest Castle or Castle of Hallforest is thought to be an old 14th-century hunting lodge built by Robert the Bruce. But other records contradict this statement and suggest that David II instructed the build of Hallforest because King Robert Bruce had a reluctance to allow castles in Scotland to still stand.

During its time, it was a 6-story building that didn’t have a staircase. To reach the top, one must ascend via ladders and latches on the floors. In 1562, Mary, Queen of Scots visited this castle. After the 17th-century, it became abandoned and is now listed as a Category B Building.

Visiting

To visit Hallforest Castle, you only need to drive 23 minutes out of Aberdeen into the shire and approach the derelict structure. It is 1.5 miles from Kintore, which means you can take a bus there and walk to the castle. Hallforest is still owned privately by the Keiths and you should ask permission to get up close to it. We drove next to the farm that is adjacent to the castle and we observed it from there just fine.

Opinion

This is an unknown castle in Scotland and it’s not advertised. But it is an excellent one for sure. The setting of the castle on the farm with the trees in the background gives it a lovely feeling. One can just imagine how great it would have been using this castle as a hunting lodge back in the day!

New Slains Castle – A975, Cruden Bay, Peterhead AB42 0NE, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Drive to Cruden Bay, within Aberdeenshire, on A975 and drive down a bumpy dirt road. Park anywhere and explore New Slains.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 0H39M, Edinburgh – 3H11M, Glasgow – 3H22M, Inverness – 2H36M
• Can you stay here? We wild camped just out front of the castle.
• Should you visit? Yes, it is one of our favorites. It’s free, you can camp here, and its architecture is incredible.
• Extra Nugget: Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, gained much inspiration from this castle and placed many details found within the castle in his book. He began writing Dracula in nearby Cruden Bay!

History

New Slains Castle is a late-16th-century tower house at its core with many add-ons through to the mid-19th-century when it was built as a Scots Baronial mansion. There was once a magnificent garden around the grounds and now it has been left to soil. The castle was abandoned by the 19th-century. There is no roof and the castle has gone to ruins.

The inside of the labyrinth-like castle is a lot of rubble and trash. But don’t let that distract you from its incredible beauty.

Visiting/Opinion

You can visit this castle any day of the year and it’s free to enter. Just be careful as it has been left to ruins with rubbish being littered within.

This was the first castle in Scotland we visited after we purchased our van Isobel. New Slains Castle holds a special place in our heart–so maybe that’s why we love this castle so much.

But all the features it has are so unique and different from other castles in Scotland. It’s like Dunrobin Castle as far as the Baronial Style, but it’s in ruins like Castle Sinclair Girnigoe. You can camp there like did at Ardvreck Castle and it’s free like some others.

There is just so much about this castle that makes it one of the best castles in Scotland and we feel you should add this castle to your list no matter what!

Glamis Castle – Forfar DD8 1RJ, United Kingdom

• Open: On weekends from January 18th to March 28th. Then daily till October 31st.
• Prices: Start at £8.50. Part of the Treasure Ticket Bundle (Glamis Castle, Blair Castle, & Scone Palace).
• Access: In the heart of Angus. Drive-in. Train to Dundee and take a Bus.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H5M, Edinburgh – 1H29M, Glasgow – 1H39M, Inverness – 2H28M
• Can you stay here? No. But you can hire the venue for many occasions.
• Should you visit? This castle can get spendy, especially having to pay for parking £2.00. But it is really pretty and very unique. Add it if you are already planning to see Blair Castle and Scone Palace.
• Extra Nugget: Home to the Lyon Family (Clan Lyon) since the 14th-century.

History

Glamis Castle is largely a 17th-century building, though a castle before the current one was at the site since 1372. The current building is listed as a category A-building. The beautiful grounds and gardens are listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother grew up here and her sister, Princess Margaret was born here. During World War I, Glamis Castle was used as a military hospital. The 19th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Simon Bowes-Lyon, still resides at Glamis.

Visiting

If you are interested to take a tour of the castle and its grounds/gardens. You may do so from 28th March – 31st October daily (Castle, Gardens and Kitchen Restaurant). Or if you would like to only see the Gardens and enjoy the Kitchen Restaurant, then you can do so from 18th January – 28th March every weekend. Open times are always 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.

Opinion

Kildrummy Castle (ruined) & Hotel – Kildrummy Castle, Alford AB33 8RA, United Kingdom

• Open: April – September
• Prices: Start at £7.50. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: Park in the designated parking area and walk up the path through a gate and explore the castle ruins
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 0H57M, Edinburgh – 2H57M, Glasgow – 3H8M, Inverness – 1H46M
• Can you stay here? No?
• Should you visit? Maybe? If you’re doing the Aberdeenshire castle trail, then adding this to the list seems appropriate. However, since it’s part of Historic Scotland you would have to purchase a one-off ticket on top of the membership for the National Trust for Scotland.
• Extra Nugget: Most Noble of the northern castles in Scotland

History

Kildrummy Castle is one of the most extensively built castles of its era, dating back to the 13th-century. It housed Robert the Bruce’s family and was under siege in 1306. The quarry that was used to produce the stone for building Kildrummy castle is now the garden. The castle’s garden is listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.

Visiting

To visit this lovely preserved ruined castle, you will need to arrive from April 1st through September 30th between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm. The last entry is at 5 pm.

Its prices for entry are as follows: Historic Scotland Member/Explorer Pass holder: FREE, Adult: £7.50, Child aged 5–15: £4.50, Child under 5: FREE, and Concession (older than 60+ or unemployed- must provide proof): £6.00.

If you are wanting to stay at this castle in Scotland, you won’t be able to. However, located in the back of Kildrummy Castle (ruined) there is Kildrummy Castle Hotel. According to Google, it is permanently closed and upon doing some testing on their website, there are no available dates to stay at the hotel. I am not sure why and there is no information regarding the situation. But check their website and test a few dates yourself to see if it’s true on your end.

Opinion

Although this castle is really neat and we do highly recommend adding it to anyone’s list. We do have to make apparent that if you are wanting to see many castles in the Aberdeenshire area. You will most likely buy the National Trust for Scotland pass as it includes most castles in the area. However, if you are stoked to see this ruined castle, then don’t leave it off just for £6.

Red Castle, Angus – Arbroath DD11 5ST, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Park at the gate and walk up the driveway to see this castle.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 1H2M, Edinburgh – 1H53M, Glasgow – 2H6M, Inverness – 3H3M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Its color is probably the most interesting part. Don’t go out of your way to see, but maybe add a detour to see it.
• Extra Nugget: The last residents were burned out of their castle home.

History

Red Castle is a 15th-century ruined fortified house on the coast of Angus sitting high atop the coastline below. The castle went through a few sets of hands and in 1579, Lord Gray and his brother bunt out the inhabitants after getting thrown out himself. The castle has been uninhabited since 1770.

Visiting/Opinion

This castle in Scotland is in an extreme state of danger as it was stated in 1999 that it was under imminent collapse. However, over twenty years later, it is still standing. Therefore, if you do decide to explore this castle in Scotland, we do advise to practice extreme caution while around Red Castle.

From our research, we do not know who owns or upkeeps this property. We do not know if it is actually private. When we visited in 2017, we just parked at the end of the gate and observed it from there.

It was still really cool and maybe worth checking out if you don’t mind a small detour from the main highway.

Don’t confuse Red Castle, Angus with Redcastle up on the Black Isle north of Inverness.

Scottish Borders Castles in Scotland

Floors Castle – Roxburghe Estates Office, Kelso TD5 7SF, United Kingdom

• Open: Terrace Café and gardens open year-round. Castle open Easter Weekend & May through September.
• Prices: Start at £20.00
• Access: Park and have an exploration of the estate, gardens, and castle!
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H16M, Edinburgh – 1H3M, Glasgow – 1H41M, Inverness – 3H50M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes. Perfectly manicured estate. Fairytale castle in style. Amazing cafe!
• Extra Nugget: This is the permanent home of the Duke of Roxburghe!

History

Floors Castle is an 18th century country house with a lovely tower house dating back much earlier. It lacks any defensive capabilities despite being fitted out with turrets and battlements.

Visiting

Make sure to arrive during the times of April 12th and 13th (Easter weekend) and any day from May 1st to September 30th if you would like to check out this castle in Scotland. We arrived well past the close date and was only able to see the gardens and have coffee and traybake at their amazing cafe! Both are open year-round!

Opinion

Based on the pictures of the castle, we believe it would be a pretty awesome castle to go in and check out. Nonetheless, if you are going to be in the area at any time of the year, definitely have something to eat, explore the gardens, and vew the castle from afar. We recommend checking out Roxburgh Castle at the same time as viewing Floors Castle from a distance! See it from here!

Greenknowe Tower – Gordon TD3 6JL, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Part of Historic Scotland, however, it is free to explore.
• Access: Carpark comes up quickly on you so be aware. Enter through the gate, walk a few meters and you’re right there. Enter and explore this castle in Scotland! Go to the top and get wonderful views.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 3H1M, Edinburgh – 0H53M, Glasgow – 1H43M, Inverness – 3H43M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? A nice tower that has few tourists. Close to the Scottish Borders and Edinburgh. Yes.
• Extra Nugget: A carved 1581 still is on display above the original iron gate to the tower.

History

Greenknowe Tower is a red sandstone16th-century tower house standing atop a mound located on a marsh that may have had a castle built there before. It is surrounded by deciduous trees that give it such a powerful look. This castle in Scotland was built primarily for residence purposes, as opposed to being a defensive stronghold.

Visiting

To visit this Scheduled Ancient Monument, you will need to drive to the town of Gordon in the Scottish Borders. From there you can head west on A6105 and park right in front of the tower house entrance gate at the turnout. Walk up the well-maintained pathway, go up a few steps, and approach the tower from the back.

You won’t find many tourists exploring this castle and we believe that to be a good thing. Places that are less well-known sit higher on the places we love list! Greenknowe Tower is a well-preserved structure that is beautifully colored due to its red sandstone. Being able to check out a castle in Scotland for free also adds a degree of interest to us.

Opinion

So in summary, definitely add this castle tower house to your list to explore. It’s even just under an hour south of Edinburgh, which brings you to the land of abbeys in Scotland. So check those out too while you’re in the area!

Hermitage Castle – Newcastleton, Hawick TD9 0LU, United Kingdom

• Open: April – September
• Prices: Start at £7.50. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: The castle is 200m from the car park. Cross a bridge and a steep incline over a grassy defensive mound.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 4H6M, Edinburgh – 1H42M, Glasgow – 2H24M, Inverness – 4H37M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Totally. One of our favorite castles in Scotland. It’s just a brute of a place and unlike any other castle, we have seen in Scotland.
• Extra Nugget: It is the guardhouse to the bloodiest valley in Great Britain and is haunted by Mary, Queen of Scots.

History

Hermitage Castle is a partially ruined 13th-century castle in the border region of Scotland. It has a particularly interesting history and reputation. Of which, includes much murder, torture, and treason. It is quoted as being one of the most sinister and atmospheric castles in Scotland.

The castle has passed through the hands of the Douglases, Hepburns, and the Scots. But it is now in the care of Historic Scotland.

Visiting

To visit Hermitage Castle, you will need to show up between the dates of April 1st and September 30th. They are open daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm with the last entry being 5 pm. However, if you will be visiting this Scotland during their closed periods, you can still access their grounds, just can’t go inside the castle or the visitor center.

Its prices for entry are as follows: Historic Scotland Member/Explorer Pass holder: FREE, Adult: £7.50, Child aged 5–15: £4.50, Child under 5: FREE, and Concession (older than 60+ or unemployed- must provide proof): £6.00.

Opinion

Even though we didn’t go inside this castle and get to learn about all its grand and dark history. We still got a jaw-dropping experience walking around the castle grounds. Hermitage Castle is just so different from its monstrously thick stature. The place just dwarfs you.

So we think this is easily one of the best Scottish Castles and that was before learning about all of its histories. Therefore, adding a bit about of context to this castle just brings the wow factor way up. We highly recommend adding Hermitage Castle to your castles in Scotland Itinerary list at any time of the year!

Dumfries and Galloway Castles in Scotland

Caerlaverock Castle – Caerlaverock, Dumfries DG1 4RU, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Start at £7.50. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: South of Dumfries and is located a few minute’s walk from the car park and visitors center.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 4H3M, Edinburgh – 2H5M, Glasgow – 1H42M, Inverness – 4H35M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Absolutely yes! It is hands-down one of our favorite castles in Scotland.
• Extra Nugget: It is a triangular-shaped castle surrounded by a moat.

History

Caerlaverock Castle is one of the best castles to visit in Scotland that we had the opportunity to go out and explore. It is a triangular castle with two towers surrounded by a medieval moat. This castle was originally erected in the 13th-century in the southern part of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway in the southwest of Scotland near the Scottish/English border. Caerlaverock served as a stronghold for the Maxwell family for four centuries until it was abandoned in the mid-17th-century.

Over the years, this castle has been demolished and rebuilt several times. But despite that, it has always retained its distinctive triangular shape surround by a moat.

With its fairytale castle appearance, it yields great interest for many tourists and movie makers, alike. It was featured in the rom-com, The Decoy Bride. But don’t let its popularity deter you from exploring this Scottish Castle.

Visiting

Caerlaverock Castle is operated and maintained by Historic Environment Scotland with it being a protected Scheduled Monument. So that means you can use one of your Historic Scotland membership passes to access this location and trust that it won’t be altered in any way. This was the castle that convinced us to sign up as Historic Scotland membership cardholders.

This castle in Scotland is easy to get to and their grounds are well maintained, which means you can walk around the castle and its interior with confidence. So you should explore this Scottish castle from every angle and every nook and cranny.

Caerlaverock is open like most other Historic Scotland sites year-round with its opening times being 1 April to 30 September: Daily, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm with last entry 5 pm and 1 October to 31 March: Daily except Thursday and Friday, 10 am to 4 pm Last entry 3:30 pm. And the only days they are closed during the year are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and January 2nd.

Its prices for entry are as follows: Historic Scotland Member/Explorer Pass holder: FREE, Adult: £7.50, Child aged 5–15: £4.50, Child under 5: FREE, and Concession (older than 60+ or unemployed- must provide proof): £6.00.

Caerlaverock Castle is not one to stay in or at, however staying in the neighboring city of Dumfries or village of Annan are good choices. They have plenty of services for anything that you may need.

Opinion

We highly recommend going to Caerlaverock Castle and making it be one of your “must-see castles” in Scotland regardless of where you’re coming from. Because of its uniquely built triangular shape and its moated surrounding, you won’t find anything else in Scotland that compares.

If you’ll be in Glasgow, you’re just 1-hour and 42-minutes away and if you’re in Edinburgh you’re slightly further away at 2-hours and 7-minutes away (but that’s worth it in our opinion)!

Cardoness Castle – Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas DG7 2EH, United Kingdom

• Open: April-September Currently closed for construction. Check here for opening times.
• Prices: Start at £6.00. Free for Historic Scotland members.
• Access: West of Dumfries and is up a set of stairs (33) from the car park and visitors center.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 4H28M, Edinburgh – 2H27M, Glasgow – 2H5M, Inverness – 5H1M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? This is a neat well-preserved tower house. If a tower house isn’t on your list yet, this one should be.
• Extra Nugget: There are great views from atop the castle grounds. Currently Completely closed.

History

Cardoness Castle is a well-preserved tower house built in the 15th-century located in southwest Scotland. Since it was built it had been own by a couple of different families until 1927 when it was placed into state care. Since then it has been marked as a scheduled monument and is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland.

Visiting

This castle is a nice add-on castle to you’re exploring castles in Scotland trip. If you are in the area of Dumfries & Galloway, it just makes sense to add this one to your list, seeing that it is slightly different from your normal castle–it’s a tower house! Cardoness is easy to get to, seeing that it is right off the main highway (A75).

This is one of the castles held under Historic Scotland that isn’t open year-round. We had to find this out the hard way. We showed up just after the September closing date. But we still looked around the ground–just couldn’t get inside the castle and see the better views from atop the tower!

They are open every day from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm with last entry at 5 pm starting April 1st and going through September 30th. They are closed from October 1st through March 31st.

Its prices for entry are as follows: Historic Scotland Member/Explorer Pass holder: FREE, Adult: £6.00, Child aged 5–15: £3.60, Child under 5: FREE, and Concession (older than 60+ or unemployed- must provide proof): £4.80. Currently, this site is completely closed.

Since this castle in Scotland is a scheduled monument, it certainly isn’t available for accommodation nor will it ever be. But if you are looking for places to stay in the area, you can always look at local bed and breakfasts or Airbnb’s or just resort back to the bigger city of Dumfries to have your accommodation at.

Opinion

Overall, this is a great castle in Scotland that we would recommend checking out. We enjoyed the outside of the castle and its grounds. So we can only imagine what the inside may look like and what the views could be from the top of the tower house. If you have been here let us know how it was or if you plan on visiting this castle, please tell us about your experience afterward!

Carsluith Castle – Newton Stewart DG8 7DY, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: West of Dumfries and directly on the main highway.
• Drive time: Aberdeen – 4H35M, Edinburgh – 2H34M, Glasgow – 2H5M, Inverness – 5H6M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Yes!, since it’s free and on the main highway. It may be a better option to Cardoness if you’re not planning on buying the Historic Scotland membership pass.
• Extra Nugget: There are great views of the sea from the top.

History

Carsluith Castle is another ruined castle tower house but this one was built in the 16th-century. It was originally owned by the Cairns family and has since gone through many many hands and left abandoned in 1748.

Visiting

It is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. They do not charge for entry to this tower house and you can enter at any time of the year. This may be the better option to Cardoness Castle, seeing that they are both Tower Houses and yet, Carsluith is free to enter and Cardoness is not.

Opinion

This castle in Scotland is not the main castle you would want to come to check out on your trip. However, since it is free and you are planning on driving down A75, then this castle would be silly to miss. So if you’re in the area and you want to see a Scottish Tower House and you’re not planning on purchasing a membership pass, then this would be right up your alley. Therefore, we would highly recommend you to see this castle!

MacLellan’s Castle – Castle St, Kirkcudbright DG6 4JD, United Kingdom

• Open: April – September | Currently closed for construction. Check here for opening times.
• Prices: Start at £4.80. Free for Historic Scotland Pass holders.
• Access: Located in Kirkcudbright in Dumfries & Galloway. Park anywhere and walk up to the castle. About 50m on a smooth hard surface.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 4H30M, Edinburgh – 2H26M, Glasgow – 2H5M, Inverness – 5H1M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? A nice L-plan castle that is well preserved. If you’re in the area then yes, otherwise other closer castles can be seen that are similar.
• Extra Nugget: There is a peephole behind the fireplace connected to a small room so that people could overhear conversations being heard.

History

MacLellan’s Castle is a 16th-century L-plan tower house located right in the village of Kirkcudbright on the River Dee. The castle had only gone through the hands of two families the MacLellan’s, of which the castle is named, and the Earls of Selkirk. The Earls of Selkirk held the castle until 1912 and then the castle was put into state care. It is now under the supervision of Historic Environment Scotland.

Visiting

To see this castle, you will have to drive or take a bus to the village of Kirkcudbright and either purchase a ticket or bring your Historic Scotland Membership pass with you. Ticket prices are at a discount currently due to construction on the site which reduces your access to the castle. When we went to visit, the castle was entirely shut down due to an extensive upkeep project. Check the website here or follow them on twitter to see if any closures or further construction are happening to this castle or any other Historic Scotland sites before you go.

Arrive between April 1st and September 30th between the times of 9:30 and 5:30 pm. They are closed from October to March!

They are currently completely closed for construction. Check here for when they’ll reopen.

Opinion

This castle didn’t give us that wow factor many other castles in Scotland had done for us previously. This castle is set in the middle of town, isn’t on a big hill like Inverness Castle is in the middle of Inverness, and we couldn’t go in due to it be under construction. We believe this tower house might be more intriguing if we could have seen the inside and learned more about its history. But that just didn’t happen. So, we can’t recommend this castle that much.

We would say, though, that if you are in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland, have the Historic Scotland pass, and don’t have anything else more worth your while. Only then should you add this castle to your exploring castles in Scotland list!

Orchardton Tower – Castle Douglas DG7 1QH, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Park next to the tower. Enter through a gate and approach the tower. Enter up a few steps. There is also a spiral staircase to access the top.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 4H11M, Edinburgh – 2H22M, Glasgow – 1H54M, Inverness – 4H41M
• Can you stay here? No.
• Should you visit? Yes, it’s a circular tower house all on its own. Different from most other tower houses of its era.
• Extra Nugget: Orchardton Tower is the only one of its type in Scotland!

History

Orchardton Tower is an unusual free-standing medieval 15th-century circular tower house located in Castle Douglas. The Cairns family built this style of donjon or circular tower nearly 200 years after the style went out of fashion. Most people were building square towers during his time.

It is similar to that of Bothwell Castle, as it has a round tower house (donjon) enclosed by its curtainwalls. The only difference is that Orchardton is free-standing. There is, however, evidence of a small fortified yard that would have housed livestock, a bakery, and cellars.

Visiting

If you really want to see a donjon, then this is the one you should see. Orchardton Tower is one of the only ones you can see inside of and explore in Scotland because the donjon at Bothwell is currently under construction. There is one more at Dirleton Castle, east of Edinburgh. But we can’t recommend that one as we have not been there or know anything about it!

The tower is open mostly year-round as they are open every day from April to September from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. And open Saturday through Wednesday from October to March from 10 am to 4 pm. Also, admission is always free!

Opinion

We highly recommend coming to Orchardton Tower as it is an unusual circular tower being built during an age when it was out of “style”. We like that kind of mentality.

“Everything popular is wrong” – Oscar Wilde

So add this to your list. You will get a great view from the top, too!

Threave Castle – Castle Douglas DG7 1TJ, United Kingdom

• Open: April – October Currently, completely closed for construction. Check here for updates.
• Prices: Start at £6.00. Free for Historic Scotland Pass holders.
• Access: Park in the carpark and walk 3/4 mile along the maintained path to the boat ramp. Take a small ferry across the River Dee.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 4H14M, Edinburgh – 2H26M, Glasgow – 1H53M, Inverness – 4H43M
• Can you stay here? No
• Should you visit? Super neat tower house in D&G with a unique approach. Yes!
• Extra Nugget: Threave Castle was a fortified artillery house in the 15th Century.

History

Threave Castle was built in the 14th Century and was a stronghold for the Black Douglases. Then the castle became an artillery house by Princess Margret. The next century it became a royal castle which was given to the Lords Maxwell. For a short period of time, the English held this castle. The castle was besieged and quickly fell to ruins and was mostly unused. The castle was passed onto the hands of the state in 1913. Now Threave Castle is under the care and supervision of Historic Scotland.

Visiting

Threave Castle is open from April 1st through September 30th from 10 am to 4:30 pm and in October from 10 am to 3:30 pm.

They are currently completely closed for construction. You can check here for updates.

Get out and explore the nature area surrounding the castle. Because you must walk 3/4 of a mile to the boat ramp, you will get many opportunities to stop and take in the views and nature!

Opinion

We really enjoyed this castle and its “nature reserve” like area. We didn’t get the opportunity to go inside the castle as we arrived during its closed period. Nonetheless, it was a really neat castle and has great things to see even from afar! If you’re going to be in the area when it’s open, we highly recommend seeing the castle and then let us know what you thought!

Castles in Dumfries and Galloway but listed elsewhere.

Dunure Castle

Scottish Islands Castles

Outer Hebrides Castles

Borve Castle – 5A, Torlum HS7 5PP, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Unknown
• Access: Gain permission from the guest house that is in front of the castle.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 7H50M, Edinburgh – 8H4M, Glasgow – 7H56M, Inverness – 5H37M
• Can you stay here? At the Guest House Borve in front of the castle.
• Should you visit? Only if you’re already going to be in the Outer Hebrides.
• Extra Nugget: Located on the Isle of Benbecula.

History

Borve Castle is a ruined 14th-century castle in Scotland in the Scottish Western Isles that was inhabited by the Macdonald’s of Benbecula until the early 17th-century when the Jacobite uprising started. Since then it has been abandoned and left to ruins. The top two stories are only visible today due to the windblown sand and other collapsed masonry.

The castle was the most imposing castle in the medieval Isle of Benbecula and potentially the most significant castle of the Outer Hebrides during its antiquated inhabitance. It is now a nationally protected archeological site under the Scheduled Monument and cannot undergo unauthorized change.

Visiting

Borve Castle is set off the road (B892) behind the Borve Guest House in Benbecula. It doesn’t have an official address, that is why I provided its address at the Borve Guest House above. To access this castle, ask permission of the guest house staff, or stay at the guest house to be able to explore this ruined Borve Castle.

It is easy to access if you get permission. If the weather is bad, the ground may be a little sloppy, so bring your rain boots or wellies (in British English).

Opinion

If you are making a road trip around the British Scottish Western Isles, then I would highly recommend adding this castle to your list to explore. However, if you’re only planning on being on the mainland, this may be a bit out of your way and way too expensive and not worth your time to explore this castle and its grounds.

We think this castle is cool and neat, but it compares to many others that may be much easier and more worth your time and money to see. So if you’re going to be in the area, add it to your list; if you’re not anywhere close, leave it off your list and find something similar that will be in the area you’ll already be exploring!

Scolpaig Tower – A865, Isle of North Uist, HS6 5DH, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Walk up to the shore-line or try to wade across the water.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 7H44M, Edinburgh – 8H5M, Glasgow – 7H49M, Inverness – 5H36M
• Can you stay here? No.
• Should you visit? If you find yourself in the Outer Hebrides, well then why not. Just don’t go here just for the tower!
• Extra Nugget: Built to provide work and help fight famine! The town of Oban did the same thing when building the McCaig’s Tower!

History

Scolpaig Tower is a 19th century Georgian Folly (primarily built for decoration) that was commissioned to provide people with a job and eradicate the famine problem during the Iron age. This tower was never inhabited and never saw any battle or siege. Its sole purpose is estetics and to provide work.

Today, it is essentially just a home for the many birds. Scolpaig Tower is a scheduled monument.

Visiting

If you want to visit Scolpaig, you can do so as long as you make the long journey to the isle of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. When the water is low, you can walk along a stone footpath directly up to the tower. However, this isn’t often and you may be better off just viewing the tower from the shore.

Opinion

We don’t recommend coming all the way out here just for this one tower that doesn’t have any significant history other than providing work for the inhabitants of North Uist during the Iron Age. However, if you are there and find more things you would like to see/do, then we would highly recommend adding this to your list of things.

Isle of Skye Castles

If you would like a more comprehensive list of Isle of Skye Castles and general tips regarding travel on Skye then check out our post here.

Caisteal Maol (Castle Moil) – Kyleakin, Isle of Skye IV41 8PL, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: N/A
• Access: Park at Kyleakin Harbor and walk 3 minutes to the castle.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 4H2M, Edinburgh – 4H20M, Glasgow – 4H8M, Inverness – 1H55M
• Can you stay here? No. Castle is in ruins.
• Should you visit? Easy castle to see as you begin your trip on Skye.
• Extra Nugget: This castle could be as old as 1,100 years.

History

Castle Moil is located just over the Skye bridge in the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye. It is a 15th-century structure but is claimed to be much older. Caisteal Maol is a single rectangular castle of three stories and is in near-complete ruins and has been decaying over the years.

The Castle had been hit by lightning in Feb. 2018. Crews have since gone in and stabilized parts of Caisteal Maol to prevent further damage.

Visiting

To get here, you will need to drive to the Isle of Skye or take a bus to the town of Kyleakin. If you are driving, you can park just near the harbor and then walk the short distance of about 3 minutes to the castle itself. There isn’t a designated trail, so be careful as you approach the castle. Walk around and see all the views it has to offer and try to picture yourself in the lord’s and clan member’s shoes as they needed to fend off Norwegian attackers.

If you are interested in doing a more proper walk around the castle and its surrounding area, then check out walkinghighlands.co.uk for a step by step plan on how!

Castle Moil is open to exploring year-round and has no fee associated with touring this Scottish castle.

If you are looking for accommodation, this castle isn’t possible, therefore, check out hotels and BnB’s in Kyleakin, Sleat, or Portree.

Opinion

Don’t go out of your way just to see this castle. There are many other castles in Scotland by the sea that are in ruins much closer to the other Scottish cities. However, if you are planning a Scotland road trip to Skye, then this castle has to be on your list.

It is free. It’s easy to access. It has great views. We liked it. You will too.

It would almost be foolish to miss this castle. So add it to your list if you’ll already be in the area, otherwise, just leave it off your list altogether.

Duntulm Castle – Isle of Skye, Duntulm, Portree IV51 9UF, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Park at the turnout, enter through a gate, and walk on a sheep grazed pasture just a few minutes and find the castle ahead.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 5H25M, Edinburgh – 5H44M, Glasgow – 5H36M, Inverness – 3H16M
• Can you stay here? No. Castle is in ruins.
• Should you visit? Yes, if you are doing a road trip on the Isle of Skye, this is an easy, ruined castle in Scotland to see.
• Extra Nugget: An old nursemaid was sent to sea as punishment for letting the chief’s infant son fall from a window to the rocks below. He abandoned the castle because of this, legend has it.

History

Duntulm Castle is a 14th or 15th-century castle that was in use until 1732 when Sir Alexander MacDonald took much of the castles material to build another structure 5 miles south. It is now a scheduled monument.

This castle has much history between the feuds of the MacDonald and Macleod clans. The MacDonalds ultimately gained the upper hand in the area.

Visiting

Visiting Duntulm Castle is easy, free, and fun. Like above, just park off of A855 and walk through a gate to see the castle. You will share the space with sheep. Don’t worry, they are more afraid of you than you are of them. Then walk up to the castle with care and explore as your interest takes you.

Opinion

This castle in Scotland is one of our most favorites only because this is where we experienced the hardest gusts of wind in our lives. I’m pretty sure if I had a bigger jacket I would have flown off the cliff. Watch our highlight reel of Skye and see me soar for a solid second with my jacket outstretched.

Add this castle in Scotland to your list if you’re on the Isle of Skye, otherwise, you could easily pass this one and go to the next.

Dunvegan Castle – Dunvegan House, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye IV55 8WF, United Kingdom

• Open: March 29th – 15th October
• Prices: Start at £16.50
• Access: Located on Isle of Skye on the northwest side. Park and enter the grounds and explore this Scottish Castle.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 5H13M, Edinburgh – 5H25M, Glasgow – 5H20M, Inverness – 2H58M
• Can you stay here? Castle Cottages located on-site are available to stay at.
• Should you visit? Yes, if you are planning a trip to Skye.
• Extra Nugget: 

History

Dunvegan Castle is a remodeled 19th-century castle designed to look medieval in style. The original castle is of the 13th-century. Dunvegan is the official seat to the clan Macloed and is an occupied residence.

The actual castle is located up off the water on a rock 50 feet above sea level. And there is a partly dug but natural 18-foot deep ditch on the backside of Dunvegan.

Visiting

The castle follows nearly the typical tourist season from 1st April – 15^th October and is open daily 10 am – 5.30 pm (last entry 5 pm).
All areas to be vacated by 5.45 pm. Dunvegan Castle and gardens are closed from 16 October – 31st March.

If you are interested in staying at this castle, that is not possible. However, they do own and operate holiday cottages that are located on the castle grounds. Dunvegan Castle has five self-catered holiday cottages available for booking out. If you are interested in booking one out for your holiday, make sure to do so well in advance and do it through their website here.

Opinion

Dunvegan is a pretty castle located on the Isle of Skye which makes pretty much everything amazing. However, this is a really neat castle that has a lot to offer–which we highly recommend checking out when on Skye. Look into their seal trips or their loch cruises & fishing trips that they offer. And why not stay there too?! Definitely add this castle to your list if you will be on the island during its open season.

Knock Castle (Skye) – Skye, IV44 8RE, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Located on Isle of Skye across from Torabhaig Distillery. Park near a small cottage and walk out to the castle.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 4H25M, Edinburgh – 4H41M, Glasgow – 4H33M, Inverness – 2H13M
• Can you stay here? No. Castle is in complete ruins.
• Should you visit? Yes, if you are planning a trip to Skye.
• Extra Nugget: The castle is haunted by a Green Lady. If something good is to come she will be happy. If something bad is to happen she will weep.

History

Knock Castle is a 15th-century keep and former stronghold for Clan MacDonald after they had overtaken it from the Macleods. By the late 17th-century, the castle was abandoned and partly dismantled to help build other nearby buildings.

Visiting

If you are interested in going to Knock Castle, follow the instructions given on Wikipedia. They are written well and accurately described.

This castle in Scotland was difficult to get to in some ways, but a fun adventure trying to find it. It was a dreary day and when we arrived an old man in the cottage talked with us for a while and even invited us in for tea. We respectfully declined. But he was happy to say an American was looking to purchase the castle and that he liked Americans.

Opinion

All that to say… It was a good experience and we enjoyed the hunt finding this castle. So maybe you will too. Just go for it and see it!

Isle of Islay Castles

Dunyvaig Castle – JVMG+7V Lagavulin, Isle of Islay, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Located on the Isle of Islay, drive to Lagavulin Distillery and walk around it. Take the driveway down to Lagavulin Bay to view the castle.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 7H28M, Edinburgh – 6H12M, Glasgow – 5H14M, Inverness – 6H58M
• Can you stay here? No. Castle is in ruins.
• Should you visit? Yes, if you are planning a trip around the Scottish Isles or are doing a whisky distillery tour.
• Extra Nugget: This was the Lord of the Isles’ naval base.

History

Dunyvaig Castle is mostly the remains of the 16th-century castle but there are 13th and 15th-century components that still exist on the site. Dunyvaig was a fortified structure that housed the MacDonald clan and some of its cadet branches. The castle was left to ruins in 1677. Today it is a scheduled monument.

Visiting

To visit this castle in Scotland, you can access it on foot from the Lagavulin Distillery. A great way to walk off your sampled dram of whisky. After walking half-way the road ends and you go on the grassy area to approach the castle. Here you can explore the castle and get great views of the Lagavulin Bay and Distillery.

Opinion

We thought this was a pretty standard ruined castle in Scotland. There wasn’t too much about it and you can’t get that close without feeling like you are risking yourself around the rocky cliff. However, we did enjoy the island as a whole and the whiskey tours. So if you’re planning on going to the Isle of Islay for its distilleries, then add this castle to your list, otherwise, leave it off!

Isle of Arran Castles

Lochranza Castle – Lochranza, Isle of Arran KA27 8HL, United Kingdom

• Open: April – September
• Prices: Free
• Access: Located on the Isle of Arran, drive around the island and park anywhere in the small village of Lochranza and walk out on the small peninsula to the castle.
• Transportation time: Aberdeen – 5H20M, Edinburgh – 3H41M, Glasgow – 2H49M, Inverness – 5H8M
• Can you stay here? No. But there are many Scottish cottages and lodges to choose from in Lochranza.
• Should you visit? Yes, if you are planning a trip around the Scottish Isles or are doing a whisky distillery tour.
• Extra Nugget: Robert the Bruce is thought to have stayed here en route from Ireland to claim the Scottish throne.

History

Lochranza Castle is a 13th-century L-plan tower house that sits on a narrow peninsula on the north side of the Isle of Arran. The castle is predominately built in the 16th-century with parts existing from the 13th-century. The castle went through many hands over its 500 years of use, however, now it is under the care of Historic Scotland.

Visiting

If you would like to visit Lochranza Castle, you will have to get yourself to the Isle of Arran between April 1st and September 30th. The castle is open daily from 9:30 to 5:30 pm, with the last entry at 5 pm. The castle is free and you can just enter as you please.

Opinion

We enjoyed this castle as we were on an island-hopping whisky distillery tour around Scotland. We weren’t expecting this Castle in the slightest bit, but there it was in all its majesty. Being able to enter freely, and enjoy the sun going down on the building just made for a great evening.

So if you’re in the area, especially if you’re doing distilleries, then we would highly recommend you adding this castle in Scotland to your list to visit.

Shetland Islands Castles

Muness Castle – Unst, Shetland ZE2 9DL, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: Drive up to Unst. Park anywhere and explore its grounds and interior. Flat and well-maintained site.
• Transportation time: Must take a ferry from Aberdeen 12H30M or fly ~1H. Then rent a car or take or your car to the island of Unst.
• Can you stay here? No.
• Should you visit? We highly recommend you to. Not only is the castle so raw and authentic, but the whole Shetland Island group is so incredibly special. You must go and find out for yourself!
• Extra Nugget: One of two castles in all of Shetland. Most northernly fortalice in Great Britain.

History

Muness Castle is a late 16th-century Z-plan castle built for the protection of the Northern Isles under Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindie. Then had gone through a turbulent time and was eventually burnt down only 29 years after it was built. Subsequently, the castle was never rebuilt and over the years, it has lost its roof and top story.

Muness Castle is now under the care and supervision of Historic Environment Scotland and is a scheduled monument.

Visiting

To see Muness Castle, you will have to ferry or fly to the Shetland Islands first. Once in the islands, you will need a car as the bus system isn’t that reliable nor is it a bus system–more like a van system. So definitely rent or bring your vehicle!

Accessing Muness Castle will require a couple more ferries to the Island of Unst. There you will be able to find the castle northeast of Uyeasound village.

We went at sunset time and it was incredible. Then we had dinner and stayed for the day to turn to nighttime and we were able to get some incredible night shots with the Milkyway up behind the castle.

The castle kindly provided flashlights to help explore those darker nooks and crannies of the castle interior.

Opinion

We highly recommend adding Muness Castle to your list as it was so different and unique. It was in an area that doesn’t see many tourists. And you are basically in the middle of nowhere. You don’t get that feeling too often when in the UK, and you get that feeling here! We loved Shetland and suggest you make a trip of its own to Shetland or find a way to add Shetland to your itinerary for Scotland.

Scalloway Castle – Castle St, Shetland ZE1 0TQ, United Kingdom

• Open: Year-round
• Prices: Free
• Access: There is a key to gain access to the castle. Walk over to Scalloway Hotel or Scalloway Museum to get the key. Return it after use.
• Transportation time: Must take a ferry from Aberdeen 12H30M or fly ~1H. Then rent a car or take or your car to the island of Unst.
• Can you stay here? No.
• Should you visit? Yes. It’s one of our favorites and we think it will be one of yours too. We love that you have to get a key to enter.
• Extra Nugget: The Earl who had Scalloway Castle built was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle and was executed 8 years after its completion.

History

Scalloway Castle is a tower house built in 1600 by the overseer of the Shetland Islands. The man, Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney, was the effective ruler over Shetland. However, after this, Patrick’s people complained to the King of his misrule over the islands and was subsequently sent to Edinburgh Castle Prison. Eventually being executed in 1615.

The castle was passed over to the Bishop of Orkney and the Scalloway Castle was in use till the 18th-century. At this time it was in poor condition and by 1908, the cast was put into state care. Now, Scalloway Castle is overseen by Historic Scotland.

Visiting

Getting to Shetland takes some planning and preparation. You must ferry or fly to the island group. Once on the island, you will need a car as the bus system isn’t that reliable nor is it a bus system–more like a van system. So definitely rent or bring your vehicle! A bike would work too, but it gets extremely windy there so we don’t know how much of a good idea that is!

We spent six weeks in the Shetland Islands for Jay’s clinical placement. Read more to see how it went and if you can get info for your trip to Shetland! 

After you have arrived in the town of Scalloway, walk over to the Scalloway Hotel or Scalloway Museum and ask for a key. We got the key from the hotel and the people inside were very friendly!

I think you have to give them a bank card or credit card for a deposit on the key.

Opinion

Go explore the castle. Walk up and around the small grounds in the downtown area and climb the stairs to the top floors of the castle.

We loved this little town, the castle, and its people! If you are going to be in town for dinner, we highly recommend staying and eating at the North Atlantic Fisheries Restaurant. Their food was spectacular and it just made for a wonderful evening after exploring this castle in Scotland!

Bottom Line

There are many more castles in Scotland to go out and explore that we didn’t get the chance to mention in this Ultimate Guide to Exploring Castles in Scotland. However, these are just the castles in Scotland we have either visited or wanted to see and couldn’t get to due to many factors. If you have a suggestion for adding a castle to this post please let us know below. Also, if you are in your planning stages of an “exploring castles in Scotland” trip, let us know which castle you are most excited to see, we’d love to know!

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