Castles in Scotland

Border feuds, not just with England, but also with their neighbors, spurred much of the architecture of Scottish castles. The tower house, built for two purposes-to serve as both a home and a defense against attack-was often the basis for further expansion into a full-blown castle. Some tower houses remained just that and mirror a harsh and dangerous way of life. If you'd like to stay in a Scottish castle, see our Castle Hotels in Scotland page.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y Z

Abergeldie Castle    An historic tower house beside the River Dee, Abergeldie Castle probably dates to the mid 16th century. The most likely builder was Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar, later Earl of Huntly. The castle was used briefly as a garrison for royal troops during the first Jacobite uprising in 1715, and later it was leased to succesive generations of the royal family, beginning with Prince Albert in 1848. Abergeldie, Grampian, Scotland Attraction Type: Castle OS NO286952 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Balvenie Castle    13th century curtain wall, added to in 15th and 16th centuries. Visited by Mary Queen of Scots. Dufftown, Grampian, Scotland, AB55 4DH Attraction Type: Castle Location: on B9014, off A941 Website: Balvenie Castle Phone: 01340 820 121 Historic Scotland Location map OS NJ326 408 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Beldorney Castle    Beldorney Castle is a restored 16th or early 17th century tower house beside the River Deveron, in the north west corner of Aberdeenshire. The Z-shaped house was built by the Ogilvey family, and was later owned by a succession of families, among them the Gordons, Lyons, Buchan, and Grant families. Dumeath, Grampian, Scotland Attraction Type: Castle Location: On a minor road about 7 miles west of Huntly OS NJ422369 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Blackness Castle    One of Scotland's most important strongholds. Built in 1440's, strengthened in 16th century as an artillery fortress; used as a Royal castle and also used as an ammunition depot in the 1870's. Blackness, Linlithgow, Fife, Central Scotland, Scotland, EH49 7NH Attraction Type: Castle Location: off A904, on B903 at Blackness, 4 m (6 km) N Linlithgow, on a promontory in the Forth estuary Website: Blackness Castle Phone: 01506 834 807 Location map OS NT055 083 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Bothwell Castle    Largest and finest 13th century stone castle in Scotland; part of the original circular deep survives; much of castle dates from 14th and 15th centuries. Bothwell, Uddingston, Strathclyde, Scotland, G71 8BL Attraction Type: Castle Location: at Bothwell, but approached from Uddingston, off M74/A725 near Glasgow Website: Bothwell Castle Phone: 01698 816 894 Historic Scotland Location map OS NS688 593 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Broughty Castle    Broughty Castle stands on the north bank of the river Tay, just east of modern Dundee. The castle was built in 1495 on a site that was first fortified about 40 years before. The castle builder was Andrew, 2nd Lord Grey. At the core of the castle is an imposing four storey tower house which was augmented by low outbuildings within encircling curtain walls. Castle Approach, Broughty Ferry, Tayside, Scotland, DD5 2TF Attraction Type: Castle Location: Of the 930 Website: Broughty Castle Historic Scotland Location map OS NO465305 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Burleigh Castle    Roofless, but otherwise complete ruin of tower house of 1500. Remarkable corner tower with square cap-house corbelled out. Visited many times by James IV. Milnathort, Tayside, Central Scotland, Scotland Attraction Type: Castle Location: half mile E of Milnathort, on A911 Website: Burleigh Castle Historic Scotland OS NO128 045 Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

More Castles in Scotland

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y Z

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Our Scotland Editor is Barbara Ballard
Contact her here. Photos in the Scotland Guide are copyright Barbara Ballard and the National Trust for Scotland.