7 Must-Visit Castles In Scotland
Wherever you stay on your Scottish holiday, you won’t be far from a castle. It’s thought that at one point, there were over 3,000 castles in the country! While there might not be quite as many today, there are still some incredible castles to explore during your stay in Scotland. If you love history, architecture and archaeology, you’re in the best place.
Why does Scotland have so many castles? For centuries, clans and nobles fought each other, as well as attempting to repel Saxon, Viking and Norman invaders from the sea. On the borders, the English posed another threat.
Each Clan or local ruler needed a strong and strategically placed base that could defend them and their people from these many threats. Castles were also a show of power and status, and it’s a testament to their engineers and builders that so many of these structures still stand today.
Scotland’s castles vary greatly, from Royal homes like Balmoral to evocative ruins such as Dunnottar. Our selection of must-visit castles is drawn from all sorts of places, giving you an idea of Scotland’s incredibly rich heritage.
Edinburgh Castle
High up on Castle Rock, this iconic landmark dominates the city of Edinburgh. Dating back to the 12th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Edinburgh Castle has been a fortress, a military base and a prison.
Highlights include the Great Hall, St Margaret’s Chapel and the Honours of Scotland (the Crown Jewels). Make sure you book tickets to this popular attraction well in advance (via the website) and if you can, try to catch one of the excellent guided tours. Combine your visit with a tour of Holyrood Palace at the other end of the Royal Mile.
Balmoral Castle
Aberdeenshire
This magnificent Scots Baronial castle was gifted to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1855 and has become the Royal Family’s home in Scotland. It was one of the late Queen’s favourite homes and she died here in September 2022.
As a much-loved Royal residence, Balmoral is generally not open to the public. However, recently, they’ve started opening the beautiful grounds during the summer months and there have even been a few pre-booked guided tours of some of the rooms. As you can imagine, these sold out very quickly, so keep an eye on their website.
Glamis Castle
Angus
Beautiful 15th-century Glamis Castle (pronounced “Glams”) is best-known for two things: being the inspiration behind William Shakespear’s Macbeth and the childhood home of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
The castle and gardens are open most days and again, we’d advise booking a place on one of their fascinating guided tours. Make sure you allow time to enjoy some delicious local food in the Castle Kitchen Restaurant, housed in the Victorian kitchens.
Dunnottar Castle
Aberdeenshire
On a rocky outcrop high above the North Sea, Dunnottar Castle has a breathtaking setting. This dramatic ruin was the fortress of the powerful Earls Marischal and hosted both William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots.
The castle is open all year (weather depending) and you can book ahead online. Please read the access guide before committing to a visit. Take time to explore the beautiful coastline as well as the castle and combine your visit with a trip to the local harbour town, Stonehaven.
Stirling Castle
Like Edinburgh, the mighty Stirling Castle dominates its surroundings from a dramatic volcanic crag. There’s been a fortress on this site for hundreds of years and the present stone-built stronghold dates from the 12th century.
Many of its buildings are later, from the 15th and 16th centuries. These were refurbished by James V who wanted a more lavish, palatial home than the older cold stone permitted. Mary Queen of Scots grew up here and she was one of several monarchs crowned at Stirling. Now cared for by Historic Environment Scotland, there are entry discounts to the castle for English heritage and Cadw members.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stirling-castle/
Eilean Donan Castle
Highlands
It’s such an iconic image: the medieval castle on its lonely loch island. The 13th-century fort was built at this strategic point where three lochs meet, on the site of the 6th-century chapel of St Donnan.
By the early 20th-century, having survived wars, raids and risings, the castle fell into ruin. It was rescued in 1911 by Lt Colonel John Macrae-Gistrap, who spent the next 20 years restoring it. The Macrae family are still the Constables of the castle, and you can find out more about its history and restoration in the visitor centre and the castle itself.
Dunrobin Castle
Sutherland
To finish, here’s a very different-looking castle, the magnificent, chateau-style Dunrobin. There’s been a castle in this strategic position overlooking the North Sea since the 12th-century, although the present fairytale-like house is the creation of architect Sir Charles Barry (best-known for the Palace of Westminster in London).
In the mid 19th-century, influenced by Queen Victoria’s comfortable residence at Balmoral, the Earl of Sutherland wanted a home rather than a fortress and hired Barry to remodel the old castle. Today, you can tour the opulent rooms and Versailles-inspired gardens and visit the museum in the castle grounds.
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