15 Best possible Castles in Scotland to Seek advice from in 2023

The precise quantity of castles in Scotland is unknown – the overall consensus being round 3,000. There are extra Scottish castles than anyplace else within the British Isles. Which, taking into account what number of historical UK towns there are with castles, is an excellent name. Visiting castles is the easiest way to immerse your self in historical Scotland, whether or not you select a medieval citadel, tower area, or royal place of abode.

Maximum Stunning Castles in Scotland

This information is jam-packed with the most efficient castles in Scotland. Those are probably the most thrilling castles, and all have distinctive claims to popularity or tales to their title. Buckle up since you are in for some critical citadel inspiration.

1. Edinburgh Fort

Edinburgh Fort wishes a little bit advent. As one of the most well-known citadel in Scotland, the medieval citadel sits on Fort Rock in proud show within the middle of Edinburgh Previous The town. Edinburgh Fort is the second one maximum visited appeal in the United Kingdom, so that you supreme consider that tickets e book out temporarily and crowds flock in top seasons. We propose reserving your tickets right here for skip-the-line get entry to sooner than you cross.

On account of this, Edinburgh Fort is best-visited low season. With fewer other folks round, you’ll be able to in point of fact soak up Scotland’s historical past. Edinburgh Fort has loads of shows, together with The Honours of Scotland, aka the Scottish crown jewels.

Admittedly, it might be felony for Edinburgh Fort to not make our listing. No longer most effective is it the medieval citadel that has survived for hundreds of years in Scotland’s capital town. Edinburgh Fort may be probably the most best-preserved castles in Scotland. For a complete day trip with quite a few instructional and informative main points, you’ll be able to’t cross incorrect with Edinburgh Fort. And bonus issues for any individual who unearths someplace to stick in Edinburgh with perspectives of the citadel on Fort Rock.

• Hours: 9:30 am to five pm
• Access Charges: $22

2. Stirling Fort

Stirling Fort is any other central development in Scottish historical past. The citadel dates again to the twelfth century and was once as soon as a Renaissance royal palace – filled with luxuries like a really perfect corridor for balls and feasting and a royal searching hotel. Positioned in Stirling, Stirling Fort was once additionally tactically used as a stronghold all the way through the Scottish Wars of Independence. Stirling Fort sits on a volcanic rock on an increased vantage level. On account of this effective place, many battles have been fought round Stirling Fort, together with Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn. Stirling Fort was once a hub of struggle.

These days, Stirling Fort is attention-grabbing for guests intrigued via Scottish historical past – particularly associated with the Wars of Independence. It’s surrounded via battlefields. Whilst in Stirling Fort, guests can excursion the other rooms and get entangled with the extra entertaining sides like attempting on length costumes and speaking to the costumed personality actors.

Stirling Fort is a laugh and family-friendly, regardless of its somber historical past. It earned a place on our listing for its hyperlinks to the Wars of Independence. Just a few castles in Scotland be offering such essential perception into this era of Scottish historical past. So don’t fail to remember Stirling Fort.

• Hours: 9:30 am – 5 pm
• Access Charges: $18

3. Dunnottar Fort

Dunnottar Fort is among the maximum dramatic castles in Scotland. The citadel stays take a seat on a 160-foot rock overlooking the North Sea, which is assumed to were the primary fortified citadel. The oldest portions of the citadel date again to the Early Heart Ages, whilst the surviving portions that guests see as of late are dated to the sixteenth century. In spite of its ruined state, Dunnottar Fort is among the most famed castles in Scotland. It speaks to a misplaced technology of Scotland and is an completely romantic addition to our most sensible Scottish Castles.

Dunnottar Fort has observed the likes of Mary Queen of Scots and William Wallace move its threshold. And with over 1000 years of historical past, it is among the supreme puts to enjoy historical Scotland. The citadel is situated within the coastal the city of Stonehaven, alongside Scotland’s east coast. This is a two-hour power from Edinburgh, however we propose spending a couple of nights there. Particularly since it’s close to the Cairngorms Nationwide Park.

• Hours: 10 am to six pm
• Access Charges: $11

4. Glamis Fort

Glamis Fort is among the most lovely medieval castles in Scotland. The citadel has over 650 years of historical past and is claimed to have impressed Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. The ancestral house owners of Glamis Fort are the Strathmore relations, who’ve resided there since 1372. It’s even stated to have hosted Mary Queen of Scots and was once the adolescence house of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mom. At Glamis Fort, the Queen Mom additionally gave delivery to Princess Margaret.

The lengthy hyperlinks to royals bagged Glamis Fort a place in our information. It’s enticing to talk over with, with a really perfect perception into historical Scotland. It is among the most effective castles in Scotland to embody its literary hyperlinks, too, that includes a Macbeth Path, which brings the play to lifestyles. The citadel is located outdoor the village of Glamis, a 20-minute power north of Dundee.

• Hours: March-October: 10 am to five pm
• Access Charges: $9

5. Balmoral Fort

Balmoral Fort is a royal place of abode – aka a part of the number of royal castles belonging to the British royal relations. Prince Albert purchased the citadel for Queen Victoria in 1852, and Balmoral Fort was once famously a favourite spot for Queen Elizabeth II. What most of the people don’t know, despite the fact that, is that the unique Balmoral Fort was once deemed ‘too small’ for the royal relations. Prince Albert in reality commissioned a brand new citadel to be in-built 1856. Balmoral Fort is a gorgeous position to be informed extra concerning the British royals. Its shut hyperlinks to the British monarchy earned it a place on our listing.

Balmoral Fort is situated within the Cairngorms Nationwide Park close to the village of Balmoral. This is a stunning position to talk over with alongside the River Dee, and it’s simple to look why a royal searching hotel was once added. Balmoral Fort is surrounded via nature.

• Hours: April-July: 10 am to five pm
• Access Charges: $20

6. Eilean Donan Fort

Likelihood is that you’ve observed an image of Eilean Donan Fort already. The citadel sits on a tidal island amidst a confluence of 3 lochs. The loch surroundings is magical (who is aware of, possibly the Loch Ness monster has a cousin?), and Eilean Donan Fort is well probably the most supreme castles in Scotland for a scenic location. The Thirteenth-century citadel was once as soon as the stronghold of the MacRae relations. Nonetheless, it was once unfortunately destroyed within the conflict all the way through the Jacobite Rebellion. Handiest in 1932 was once the Scottish citadel restored to its former glory and opened to the general public.

Eilean Donan Fort is gorgeous to talk over with. Should you do, you should prevent on the a couple of scenic viewpoints across the loch coastline. Inside of, you’ll be able to take excursions of the rooms and shows. However the principle draw is the cultured and the truth that such crucial citadel was once resurrected from melancholy with renovations.

• Hours: February-December: 9 am to six pm (varies via month)
• Access Charges: $13

7. Braemar Fort

The Seventeenth-century Braemar Fort is an iconic fortified citadel in the course of the Cairngorms Nationwide Park. It has had some well-known guests, together with the present British royal relations. Extended family Farquharson may be some of the famed clans in Scotland, so visiting their ancestral relations house is a should.

The citadel has observed many ‘background’ figures of Scotland, from the usual bearer for Mary Queen of Scots to warriors of the Combat of Culloden. Braemar Fort is thrilling to talk over with and listen to concerning the different aspect of historical past. The aspect of historical past that concerned on a regular basis other folks, now not simply influential figures and the rich.

Braemar Fort is only a stone’s throw from the Scottish Highland Video games. Should you talk over with on the proper time of 12 months, believe combining the 2. It’s value noting that for a length of 2023, Braemar Fort shall be closed within for renovation. Test the site for updates.

• Hours: TBC
• Access Charges: TBC

8. Cawdor Fort

Cawdor Fort is any other ancestral house central to Scottish historical past. Shakespeare fanatics might acknowledge the citadel from Macbeth’s ‘Thane of Cawdor’. And truthfully, Cawdor Fort isn’t some distance from legends or tales. This is why we added it to our listing. The medieval citadel in reality includes a tower constructed round a mythical holly tree. In line with legend, the unique Thane of Cawdor dreamed a few donkey wearing a coffer of gold. In his dream, the donkey laid down at the most efficient position for a brand new citadel, the place it might eternally prosper. The thane did the one logical factor – reenacting his dream and development the brand new citadel on the holly tree the place the donkey stopped.

Cawdor Fort is attention-grabbing to talk over with and has a in point of fact enticing historical past. You’ll be able to talk over with on a self-guided or guided excursion, exploring the grounds and internal. Within the tiny village of Cawdor, Cawdor Fort is round a 20-minute power from Inverness.

• Hours: April-October: 10 am to five pm
• Access Charges: $17

9. Culzean Fort

Culzean Fort is lavish and sumptuous – what extra do you wish to have to understand? The citadel dates again to the sixteenth century, and its grounds characteristic a deer park. Households will love getting up with regards to the pleasant deer. Culzean Fort is the easiest position to talk over with with kids for that ‘vintage citadel’ enjoy. Inside of, the principle options of Culzean Fort are the pretty drawing room and oval staircase. As soon as owned via Extended family Kennedy, Culzean Fort is now the valuables of the Nationwide Accept as true with of Scotland. Because of this whilst the citadel stays embellished as a non-public place of abode, it stays open year-round for public get entry to.

With the exception of the citadel having deer you’ll be able to meet, our favourite factor about Culzean Fort is its clifftop location. The citadel sits overlooking the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran. Simply south of Ayr, Culzean Fort is a straightforward day commute from Glasgow, simply an hour’s power away.

• Hours: 10 am to 4 pm
• Access Charges: $12

10. Dunrobin Fort

Dunrobin Fort is the most important within the Northern Highlands. This is a non-public place of abode of many titles – from probably the most oldest inhabited castles in Scotland to probably the most northern of Scotland’s nice homes. Dunrobin Fort has housed the similar relations for over 700 years. We adore what number of ties it has to Scotland’s historical past and the historical past of the United Kingdom. Dunrobin Fort was once a naval sanatorium in WWI. It has hyperlinks to the Homes of Parliament thru its shared architect, Sir Charles Barry.

Its historical past is going again even additional, despite the fact that, for the reason that oldest portions of the citadel date again to round 1275. A talk over with to the citadel’s on-site museum is a should. It is among the maximum informative and traditionally complicated castles to talk over with in Scotland. Referring to visiting, Dunrobin Fort is simple to squeeze right into a North Coast 500 highway commute. Dunrobin Fort sits at the coast overlooking the Moray Firth. It’s only outdoor the east Scottish village of Golspie. Take a look at our Dunrobin Fort information right here for extra inspiration and crucial main points.

• Hours: April-September:
• Access Charges: $16

11. Craigievar Fort

Craigievar Fort is beautiful attention-grabbing. No, significantly, the Scots baronial-style citadel is shiny purple. The purple Scottish citadel is rumored to be the muse at the back of Walt Disney’s Cinderella Fort – each kid’s dream addition to our most sensible Scottish castles. Craigievar Fort is gorgeous to talk over with.

The citadel’s good looks is what bagged it a place on our listing; it is among the supreme castles in Scotland if you wish to have a novel aesthetic. And situated in Alford, a village between Cairngorms Nationwide Park and Aberdeen, it has a scenic location within the Scottish Highlands.

Craigievar Fort dates again to 1626 and has Jacobean touches all over. Having lived during the struggle for Scottish independence, Craigievar Fort is stuffed with thrilling shows about Scotland’s historical past. Guests can excursion the various rooms and shows. And whenever you’ve explored within, you’ll be able to head out to identify natural world like pine martens and deer outdoor on its grounds.

• Hours: Crack of dawn to nightfall
• Access Charges: $17

12. Dunvegan Fort

Dunvegan Fort is a shocking Scottish citadel at the Isle of Skye. The citadel is the valuables of Extended family MacLeod and, like many castles in Scotland, is shrouded in custom and stories of magic. Essentially the most valued ownership in Dunvegan Fort is the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan, which is claimed to carry magical powers of assured victory in struggle.

The silk flag is assumed thus far again to the 4th century and is derived from Syria or Rhodes. Dunvegan Fort is among the most attractive castles in Scotland. Occupied via the similar relations for over 800 years, it is stuffed with tales and legends handed thru generations. Additionally it is believed to be the oldest regularly inhabited citadel in Scotland.

You’ll be able to take a self-guided or guided excursion thru Dunvegan Fort. This is a glorious spot to get a extra intimate style of Scottish historical past. We adore the component of magic and superstition.

• Hours: April-October: 10 am to five:30 pm
• Access Charges: $19

13. Flooring Fort

Flooring Fort is among the supreme castles in Scotland at the Scottish borders – simply an hour from Edinburgh. Set on a gorgeous property, the 52 acres characteristic a Victorian Walled Lawn and Millennium Lawn. A number of forest and riverside trails zigzag the property’s grounds. Flooring Fort is as a lot an afternoon open air as an indoor appeal. This says so much taking into account Flooring Fort is the most important inhabited area in Scotland. We adore how a lot there’s to do at Flooring Fort, and its myriad of pop-up occasions and actions is one more reason we added it to our information.

Ground Fort dates again to the 18th-century. It was once to begin with handled via the primary Duke as a ‘nation area’ or bolt hollow when escaping the calls for of Parliament in London. 9 Dukes later, the citadel was once in any case opened to the general public in 1977. It’s a thrilling citadel, all the time internet hosting a brand new task or tournament.

• Hours: Would possibly-October: 10:30 am to five pm
• Access Charges: $21

14. Blair Fort and Gardens

Blair Fort is among the maximum historical of Scotland’s castles. House to the Atholl relations for over seven centuries, it has lived thru a few of Scotland’s darkest hours. The citadel’s 30 rooms have observed one of the maximum influential politicians and squaddies. Relationship again to 1269, Blair Fort has an excellent show of armory all over – a becoming nod to Scotland’s turbulent previous. Its ancient significance is strictly why it made our listing.

Blair Fort and Gardens is situated close to the tiny village of Previous Blair, simply beneath the Cairngorms Nationwide Park. It’s massively scenic to talk over with. The nationwide park backdrop is one thing else. When you’ve got a couple of days to spend within the house, Cairngorms Nationwide Park is well-combined with Blair Fort. Inside of, the citadel’s design spans a couple of eras. Some options whisk you again to medieval Scotland, whilst others talk to newer Victorian types.

Traveling Blair Fort is attention-grabbing as it has this sort of lengthy historical past. You’ll be able to obviously see the other influences of each and every technology. It’s an out of this world Scottish citadel with exhibitions all over for a museum-like enjoy.

• Hours: April-October: Monday-Sunday 10 am to five pm
• Access Charges: $20

15. Inveraray Fort

Inveraray Fort is among the supreme castles in Scotland. Why? It’s been house to the Extended family Campbells for generations. The present Extended family Campbells grasp the name of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll. Additionally it is so stunning that it was once selected because the set for the 2012 Downtown Abbey Christmas particular. We had so as to add it to our listing.

Quite than being all the time to be had, like Edinburgh Fort, visiting Inveraray Fort is a lot more intimate. You’ll excursion all of the non-public rooms and flooring, finding out extra about its previous house owners and designers. The citadel itself has stunning Scottish baronial structure.

The citadel is close to the village of Inveraray, at the outskirts of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Nationwide Park. It’s imaginable to talk over with as a day commute from Glasgow, Oban, and even to include it right into a Scottish highway commute.

• Hours: March-September: Thursday-Monday 10 am to five pm, October: Thursday-Monday 10 am to 4 pm
• Access Charges: $19

• Mauchline Fort: An oblong tower area in East Ayrshire.
• Caerkaverock Fort: A moated triangular citadel close to Dumfries.
• Duart Fort: A citadel via the Sound of Mull owned via Extended family Maclean.

To Conclude

From the Scottish Highlands to the middle of action-packed Edinburgh, the castles in Scotland are one thing else. Visiting a Scottish citadel is a ceremony of passage. Castles are so intertwined in Scottish historical past that it’s close to unattainable – or must be thought to be as such – to depart them out of a Scotland itinerary.

On the lookout for extra inspiration forward of your talk over with to Scotland? Take a look at our North Coast 500 information and our final information to the supreme towns in Scotland. Another way, experience visiting as many of those supreme castles in Scotland as imaginable. You received’t be apologetic about it.