Scotland is ‘full’ of beautiful castles and fortresses. That is why I have not tried to collect them all. However, the most beautiful Scottish castles and chateaux are definitely included!
Table of Contents
The most beautiful castles in Scotland
Dunrobin Castle
Located north of Inverness on the east coast, in Golspie.
Its first mention dates back to 1401 as the residence of the Earls of Sutherland. Over the centuries, it has been expanded and remodeled multiple times. Its current L-shaped complex emerged in the 17th century.
The magnificent French garden, modeled after Versailles, was created in the mid-19th century by Charles Barry, the architect of the Westminster Parliament.
Drummond Castle
The castle is most famous for its garden, known as „the best example of terraced gardens in Scotland”. It is situated on a part of the rocky ridge known as Gask Ridge.
The castle consists of a tower house built at the end of the 15th century and a villa built in the 17th century, both of which were remodeled in Victorian times.
The garden was created in 1630 and rebuilt in the 19th century.
Balmoral Castle
Located along the River Dee, in the area known as Royal Deeside, within Cairngorms National Park.
The estate was purchased in 1852 by Queen Victoria and her consort, Prince Albert, and remains the favorite summer residence of the royal family to this day.
The prince immediately began planning the expansion of the castle and the construction of a new, larger castle suitable for the royal family. The new castle, built about 100 meters from the old one, was completed in 1856. The old building was then demolished.
Today, it is open to visitors continuously from April to July, until the beginning of the queen’s annual visit. Of the interior spaces, only the ballroom is open to the public.
Glamis Castle
One of the easternmost castles in Scotland. This building is the residence of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
The castle has been the property of the Lyon clan since the 14th century, but it only gained its current form in the 17th century. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, spent her childhood here.
The castle is known as one of the most haunted places in the world. It is said to contain a walled-in monster within its walls. According to legend, it was a deformed child of the residing family, who was kept confined within the castle walls all his life and then walled in after death.
Culzean Castle
Near the town of Maybole, on Scotland’s Ayrshire coast, the castle is built atop a cliff. Previously inhabited by Scottish nobles, the Earls of Ailsa from the Kennedy clan.
The L-shaped Culzean Castle was built at the end of the 18th century for David Kennedy, the 10th Earl of Cassilis. It also has a beautiful 500-hectare park.
Its main attraction is the oval staircase with a glass roof in the center of the building and the semi-circular, sea-facing salon that opens from it.
One of its rooms was made available to General Dwight Eisenhower during World War II, which now houses an exhibition about his life.
The castle’s image adorns the back of the five-pound note.
Inveraray Castle
Located in western Scotland on the shores of Loch Fyne, it has been owned since the 17th century by the Duke of Argyll, head of the Campbell clan. It is also referred to as one of Scotland’s most beautiful castles.
There has been a ducal residence on the site since the 15th century, but the current baroque-gothic castle was built in the 17th century and reached its final form at the end of the 19th century.
Its most famous part is the armory, which is 21 meters high. The displayed weapons showcase the history of Scotland and the Campbell clan.
Kilchurn Castle
Located not far north of Inveraray Castle, at the northern tip of Loch Awe, it is a popular photography site due to its location and surroundings.
First built in the mid-15th century by the Campbell clan, who expanded the castle and their domain over the next 150 years. It was then transformed into a fortress, and by the end of the 1700s, the site was abandoned.
Dunvegan Castle
Scotland’s oldest continuously inhabited castle, which is the ancestral home of the famous MacLeods.
One of its features is the Fairy Flag, an ancient family heirloom. When unfurled, it helps the family thrice: its magic repels enemies, staves off famine, and brings fertility.
The 14th-century castle has exhibitions, and outside, a large garden offers a beautiful view of the sea, from where seal-watching trips are also organized.
Kelburn Castle
Located 35 km west of Glasgow near the seaside town of Fairlie, this colorful castle has been owned by the Boyle family since its construction in the 18th century.
The reason I say colorful is that in 2007, the owner decided to paint the walls in colors at the suggestion of his children. Various patterns and fairy-tale figures were thus painted on the walls.
Unfortunately, the office dealing with monuments only temporarily authorized this, so it’s uncertain how long the castle can be seen in this form.
The most beautiful fortresses in Scotland
Stirling Castle
Located in the city of Stirling, this castle is one of the largest and most architecturally and historically significant in Scotland.
The castle’s foundation was built in the 14th century, but the main buildings are from the 15th and 16th centuries. Several Scottish kings and queens were crowned within its walls.
In the southern part of the upper courtyard is the palace block. Its construction was started by James IV but is actually associated with James V. It features both Renaissance and late Gothic architecture. It is considered one of the most impressive Scottish buildings.
Eilean Donan Castle
The castle is built on an island in Loch Duich in the western part of the Scottish Highlands.
It serves as the headquarters of the Scottish MacRae clan. The name literally means „Island of Donan” and is named after a 6th-century hermit.
The castle was built in 1220 by King Alexander II of Scotland and was completely destroyed by an English fleet in 1719. It was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century.
Today, the castle houses a museum. One of its interesting features is that its former kitchen is set up with characteristic sounds to create the impression that food is being prepared for the lord.
The castle can only be approached on foot, via a stone bridge.
Urquhart Castle
The castle is located next to Loch Ness, along the A82 main road, between Fort William and Inverness.
It was one of medieval Scotland’s largest strongholds. Unfortunately, it is quite dilapidated, but still impressive as it majestically sprawls atop a hill.
The walled part of the castle resembles a horizontal figure eight, oriented northeast to southwest. Although no upper level remains intact, the positions of the supporting beams can be seen in the stone walls, illustrating the construction methods of the time.
The visitor center features an exhibition about the castle’s history, including several medieval relics.
Dunnottar Castle
A ruined, medieval fortress situated on a steep, rocky promontory on the northeastern coastline of Scotland.
While the current castle ruins date back to the 15th and 16th centuries, a fortification existed here in the early medieval period. The ruins rise about 50 meters above sea level.
Dunnottar played a significant strategic role in Scottish history from the Middle Ages until the Enlightenment. Its location allowed for monitoring ships heading towards North Scotland and controlling land traffic.
The castle can be accessed via two footpaths. One is an 800-meter, partially steep footpath, equipped with some newly built stairs, connecting it to a car park along the coastal road (which joins the A92 main road). The other is a 3-kilometer tourist path originating from behind the harbor in Stonehaven, heading south along the cliff top to the castle. This path is quite narrow and steep in places but offers beautiful sea views.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle, an ancient fortress, sits atop a volcanic rock peak. It’s located at the upper end of the famous Royal Mile street in the western part of Edinburgh’s old town.
A royal castle has stood here since the 12th century, participating in numerous historical conflicts as one of the most important strongholds of the Kingdom of Scotland.
Most of the current buildings date from after the 16th century, with the notable exception of St. Margaret’s Chapel. This is Edinburgh’s oldest surviving building, constructed in the early 12th century.
Other notable structures include the royal palace and the 15th-century Great Hall. The castle also houses the Scottish National War Memorial and the National War Museum of Scotland.
It is the annual venue for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a military band festival that has become a symbol of Edinburgh and indeed all of Scotland.
