Castles in Scotland… how not to fall in love with this country full of history and marvelous landscapes! I had the challenging task of choosing the most excellent and different castles in Scotland for you to visit! Add them to your journey in Scotland and travel across time!
It is said there have been 3 thousand castles in Scotland, almost one to every 100 square miles! The castles are part of the Scottish landscape together with its lakes, mountains, and hairy cows (coos as they say here).
See the ones that should be in your itinerary in Scotland!
10 Castles in Scotland that you must visit
How to visit the castles in Scotland
For those who are visiting and don’t live in the UK the best way to see these castles in Scotland is by renting a car. Check here some options to rent at RentCars. The costs will vary according to the model of the car and how many days. To fill up the tank it will cost you around £80. Pay attention if the car is petrol or diesel
You can also travel by train, some journeys are really pretty and it is a very comfortable option. However, most of these castles are not close to Train Stations.
If you don’t have anyone to share the care with then it might be interesting to join a 1-day tour group. Prices may vary from 40 to 100 pounds. I will suggest some here to visit the Castles in Scotland, that way is easier for you to understand.
1 – Urquhart Castle
One of the main attractions when visiting Loch Ness is Urquhart Castle, located just 35 minutes South of Inverness by car at the margins of the loch. It was built in the XIII century and was very important during the fight for the Independence of Scotland when it was under the control of Robert the Bruce when he became king of Scots in 1306.
The castle was raided many times by the ambitious Lords of the Isles being damaged and even destroyed by its owner during the Jacobite Revolution in the XVIII century. The English Crown deceived the owner saying they would pay for the loss in case he exploded the castle and the owner never saw the money. Save 2 hours to visit the castle and choose the earliest time available at 9.30 am. Remember you have to purchase the tickets online on the official website.
If you are traveling alone check out this tour from Edinburgh that includes the Loch Ness and Urquhart.
2 – Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most pictured castles in the world. Its arched bridge over the lake and surrounded by golden mountains invite its visitors to a world of magic! Eilean means island in Gaelic and Donan is the name of a saint.
Legend tells that one of the rare artifacts displayed in the castle is a sword used during the Battle of Culloden near Inverness.
The original castle was built in the XIII century and became a fortress for Clan MacKenzie of Kintail. During the Jacobite revolution, the castle was destroyed by the English Crown and it was rebuilt in 1919 when they also built the arched bridge.
3 – Edinburgh Castle
Located on top of an extinct volcano in the pretty capital of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle is the most important and most famous in Scotland. It was destroyed and rebuilt many times and is considered the most sieged castle in the UK. It is also the most visited attraction in Scotland and it holds many events like the fireworks to celebrate the end of the Fringe festival in August. It’s pure magic!
The visit includes many rooms like the Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny, and Mons Meg, not to mention that you can hear the One O’Clock Gun canon shoot at 1 pm.
The castle has a free part where you can see the stands for in the entrance area which has a great view of the city. The visit to the Castle of Edinburgh passes many rooms from Monarchy rooms to hospital, war museum, palace, library, and even St Margaret’s Chapel.
Edinburgh is my favorite city in the UK, full of life, great architecture, good food and many nice things to see.
4 – Stirling Castle
The favorite residency of the kings and queens of the house Stuart Stirling Castle lived many years of glory, betrayal, fights, and coups. Mary of Scots lived here, one of the most important monarchs in Scotland. She was accused of murdering her husband and had to abandon her son, the heir to the throne, and ran away to England where she was arrested for 19 years by her own cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. Besides royal residency, the castle served as a prison and military base.
Located on the top of a hill it is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland and it was built in the XV and XVI centuries having many repairs and works during the years. Book your ticket in advance here.
If you are traveling alone you can do this tour from From Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & Kelpies Tour
5 – Dunnottar Castle
Located on a cliff on the Northwest coast about 3km South of Stonehaven, Dunnotar Castle was part of many changes in the country especially during the Jacobite revolution due to its strategic position. It was built in the XIII century but many other structures were built in the XV and XVI centuries. Many important people went there like William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose, and King Charles II.
6 – Glamis Castle
With its reddish walls, Glamis Castle is one of the most charming castles in Scotland. Located in Glamis village nearby the city of Dundee it is one of the oldest clans residency of the Scottish nobility (just like the Stuarts) this is the house of the Count and Countess of Strathmore. It appeared in the novel Macbeth from Shakespeare and it was also the place where Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) was born and grew up.
7 – Dunvegan Castle
This castle is located on top of a rock with a gorgeous view of Dunvegan Loch and it is surrounded by forest, hills, and seals!
It is the house of Clan MacLeod for over 800 years and on its inside there is an exhibition of many treasures the most famous is the Fairy Flag, the sacred legendary flag associated with Celtic fairies and magical properties. Castle Duvegan is in the Northwest part of Isle of Skye and you can add on your journey of 2 days on the island!
8 – Drumlaring Castle
The castle is located near the Dumfries to the South of Scotland! These are called the Lowlands of Scotland. You will realize the landscapes change and is flat and full of sheep farms.
The gardens of this Drumlaring castle are very pretty, organised and it is worth visiting, it costs £3. In 2020 there weren’t any tours on the inside of the castle and it was not allowed to film. It is possible to visit the outside of the castle, the old stables and make a trail by foot or bike. Some scenes from Outlander were filmed here.
9 – Dunrobin Castle
Castle Dunrobin is the house of Clan Sutherland for over 700 years and is located 1.6km from Golspie to the North of Scotland passing Inverness. Its first mention was in the XIII century and its Gaelic name means Robin’s Hill or Fort, possibly due to the VI Earl of Sutherland called Robert.
In the past, it was a fortress and it didn’t even have stairs for 200 years, the castle was redesigned in the XIX century in a French style that you can notice from its round and cone-shaped towers and the well-cared gardens. Besides residency, it was used as a naval hospital during the First World War. It is open for tourism from April to October.
10 – Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is a royal residency since it was bought by Prince Albert in 1852, a gift from him to Queen Victoria who was enchanted by the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. It is located at the Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire near the town of Crathie and it has partridges, forestry, and farming lands besides deer, cattle, and ponies.
The original castle was not big enough for the royal family then the prince decided to build a new one 100 metres from the original. In 1856 the castle was ready in only 3 years. Nowadays the King takes care of the castle since this is personal property and not the property of The British Crown.
Did you enjoy the list of Castles in Scotland? Which one would you like to visit? Leave a message in the comments
