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Castles – UK – SCOTLAND
N.E. HIGHLANDS
Castle of Old Wick, 1 mile south of Wick, Wick, Caithness, Scotland.
01667 460 232 – www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Access at any reasonable time
Ruin of a very early Norse Tower House on a spectacular spine of rock projecting into the sea between two narrow gulleys.
Ardvreck Castle, Loch Assynt, 11 miles east of Lochinver, Lochinver, Sutherland, Scotland.
Access at any reasonable time
Built around 1490 this 3 storied ruin stands on the shore of Loch Assynet. After his defeat at Culvain in 1659 the Marquess Of Montrose fled to Assynet but was captured and imprisoned in this castle before being taken to Edinburgh and executed.
Lochindorb, unclassified road off A939, 10 miles NW of Granton On Spey, Granton on Spey, Morayshire, Scotland.
Exterior view only no access to the castle island
The ruins of this 13C castle stand on an island in the Loch. It was occupied in 1303 by Edward I. In 1371 the castle became home to The Wolf Of Badenoch, The Earl Of Buchan who terrorised the area. The castle was dismantled in 1456.
N.W. HIGHLANDS
Strome Castle, Stromemore, 4 miles S of Lochcarron, Lochcarron, Wester Ross, Scotland.
01599 566 325
Open all year
This ruined castle dates from the 15C and comprises of a ruined square tower, a courtyard entered through a gateway on the north wall and a gateway on the west wall that leads to the headland.
Inverlochy Castle, 2 miles NE of Fort William, Off the A82, Fort William, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
Exterior View Only
Well preserved 13C castle, in the form of a square with round towers at the corners, the castle belonged to the Comyn family. The largest tower was the Donjon or Keep.
Castle Tioram, Loch Moidart, Moidart, Ardnamurchan, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
Access at all times
Ruined fortress dominating a bracken green islet. Once the home of the Chief Of MacDonalds of Clan Ranald, but the last chief burnt the castle to prevent it falling into the hands of his enemies, the Campbells during the 1715 Jacobite rebellion.
TAYSIDE
Broughty Castle Museum, Castle Approach, Broughty Ferry, Angus & Dundee, DD5 2PE, Scotland.
01382 436 916 - www.dundeecity.gov.uk/broughtycastle
April – Sep (Mon-Sat) 10.00-16.00 (Sun) 12.30-16.00 Oct-March (Tues – Sat) 10.00 – 16.00 (Sun) 12.30-16.00 Closed Mondays.
A 15C Estuary Fort, now housing a museum with displays on local history, arms and armour, sea side life and Dundee’s Whaling history.
Dudhope Castle, Dudhope Park, Barrack Road, Dundee, Angus & Dundee, Scotland.
Exterior view only
The castle was originally built in the 13C to provide a home for the Hereditary Constables Of Dundee. By the mid 18C the building contained a woollen mill and later became a barracks.
Red Castle, Overlooking Lunan Bay, 2 miles NE of Inverkeilor, Montrose, Angus & Dundee, Scotland.
Access at all times
15C red sandstone castle ruins overlooking Lunan Bay. The present remains replaced an even earlier fort built for William The Lion Heart.
Claypotts Castle, Off the A92 East of Dundee, Broughty Ferry, Angus & Dundee, Scotland.
01786 431 324
Exterior View Only
This castle dates from 1569-1588 and has a rectangular central block flanked by two round towers.
GRAMPIAN
Findlater Castle, By Sandend, Portsoy, Sandend, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Access at all times
Cliff Top ruin of a 15C Ogilvie Stronghold.
Mither Tap, Bennachie Hills, Garoich, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Access at all times
Iron Age Hill Top Fort.
FIFE
Burleigh Castle, Near Milnathort, Off the A991, 2 miles NE of Kinross, Kinross, Fife, Scotland.
0131 668 8800
(Mon-Sat) 09.00-18.30 (Sun) 14.00-18.30 Keyholder at farm opposite phone 0131 668 8800
A Tower House built around 1500 which was the seat of the Balfours Of Burleigh. The house is now roofless but is otherwise a complete ruin with attractive features such as a defensive Barmkin Wall and a corner tower.
ISLANDS
Muness Castle, 4 miles NE from pier at Belmont, Off the A968, Unst, Shetland, Scotland.
01856 841 815
Access at all times Exterior View Only
A late 16C Tower House with circular towers. It is the most Northerly Castle in the British Isles.
Fort Charlotte, Town Centre, Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland.
01856 841 815
1st April – 30th Sept ( Mon-Sun ) 09.30-18.30 1st Oct-31st March ( Mon-Sun ) 09.30-16.30 Key available locally
Built in 1665 the fort was captured by the Dutch and burned in 1673, the present building was rebuilt in 1781 and comprises a pentagonal fort with corner bastions and huge walls.
Scalloway Castle, In Scalloway, 6 miles W of Lerwick on the A970, Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland.
01856 841 815
Open during Shetland Woollen Company Shop hours Mon-Sat 09.30-17.00 Sundays key available from Royal Hotel.
A mansion built in medieval style in 1600 by the Earl of Orkney which fell into disuse in 1615.
Noltland Castle, On the Island of Westray, 1 mile W of Pierowall Village, Westray, Orkney, Scotland.
01856 841 815
11th June – 30th Sept Mon-Sun 09.30-18.30
Ruined Z plan tower built between 1560-1573, but never completed. Impressive winding staircase and large number of gun loops.
Cubbie Row’s Castle, On the Island of Wyre, 0.5 miles from pier Wyre, Orkney, Scotland.
01856 841 815
Ferry from Tingwall.(Access at all times)
Probably Scotland’s earliest stone castle built around 1145 consisting of a small rectangular tower enclosed in a circular ditch. The ruins of the late 12C Romanesque style St Mary’s Chapel are close by.
BORDERS
Roxburgh Castle, Off the A699, 1 mile SW of Kelso, Kelso, Scottish Borders, Scotland.
Access at all times
Remaining earthworks of a once magnificent castle that was destroyed by the Scots in the 15C and the walled Royal Burgh that gave it’s name to the County.
Hume Castle, Hume, 3 miles S of Greenlaw, Kelso, Scottish Borders, Scotland.
Access at all times daylight hours
Ruined remains of castle destroyed by Cromwell and partially rebuilt by the Earl of Marchmont. Spectacular views of the Tweed Valley and beyond. Explanatory displays.
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
Morton Castle, On the A702, near Carronbridge, 17 miles NW of Dumfries, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland.
0131 668 8800
Access at all times
Well preserved 13C ruins of a Hall House the stronghold of the Douglas’s.
Carsluith Castle, A75 3.5 miles S of Creetown, Carsluith, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland.
0131 668 8800
Open 1st April-30 Sept Mon-Sun 09.30-18.30 1st Oct – 31st March Mon-Sat 09.30-16.30 Sun 14.00-16.30
Charming well preserved ruins of a 16C four storied tower house, one of the last owners being the last Abbot of the Sweetheart Abbey. The ruins include a range of 18C outbuildings.
Dunskey Castle, Portpatrick, Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland.
Access at all times
Early 16C castle ruins perched dramatically on the cliff top. The ruins themselves can be reached by a cliff top footpath that climbs from the old Quarry at the South end of Portpatrick Waterfront.
Lochmaben Castle, 1 mile S of Lochmaben, by Castle Loch, Lochmaben, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland.
0131 668 8800 – Exterior View Only
The ruins of a 14-16C castle which were once the seat of Robert The Bruce’s family, the castle itself is set on a promontory in Castle Loch.
CENTRAL SCOTLAND (PERTHSHIRE & STIRLINGSHIRE)
Finlarig Castle, Killin, Across the river Dochart near the golf course, Killin, Perthshire, Scotland.
Access at all times
Ruins of the castle built by Black Duncan of the Cowl a notorious Campbell Laird.
Balvaird Castle, Off the A912, 6 miles Se of Bridge Of Earn, Bridge Of Earn, Perthshire, Scotland.
01786 431 324
Exterior View Only. Limited opening – confirm by telephone 01786 431 324.
A late 15th-century tower on an L plan, extended in 1581 by the addition of a walled courtyard and gatehouse.
ARGYLL
Kilchurn Castle, NE end of Loch Awe, 2.5 miles from Dalmally, Off the A85, Dalmally, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.
Summer only – public access by boat only
Substantial ruin of a square tower built around 1550. Enlarged in 1693 by the earl Of Breadalbane. The tower incorporates the first ever purpose built barracks in Scotland and the site offers fantastic views down the length of the Loch.
Skipness Castle and Chapel, On the coast at Skipness, On the East Coast Of Kintyre, Off the B8001, Skipness, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.
Access at all times Exterior view only.
13C castle with 16C tower house, nearby there is a 14C chapel with interesting grave slabs.
Carnasserie Castle, On the A816, 2 miles N of Kilmartin, Kilmartin, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.
Access at all times
Combined tower house and hall and previous home of John Carswell, first Bishop of the Isles. Features include fine 16C details. The castle was captured and partially blown up during Argyll’s rebellion in 1685.
Castle Sween, East Shore of Loch Sween, Knapdale off the B8025, Knapdale, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.
0131 668 8830
Open all year
Probably the oldest stone castle on the Scottish Mainland built in 12C and destroyed by Alexander MacDonald in 1647.
AYRSHIRE, STRATHCLYDE & LANARKSHIRE
Cadzow Castle, In the grounds of Chatelherault Country Park, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Exterior View Only, Access at all times.
Constructed between 1500 and 1550 the castle was formerly known as ” The Castle In The Woods Of Hamilton”.
Cathcart Castle, 1 mile S of Rutherglen, At the head of Linn Park, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Access at all time during daylight hours
15C stone fortress, now only the foundations survive.
EDINBURGH CITY
Lauriston Castle Gardens, Crammond Road South, Davidson Mains, 4 miles from Centre Of Edinburgh on A90, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH4 5GD, Scotland.
0131 336 2060 - www.cac.org.uk
Gardens open all year 09.00 – Dusk Charge for entrance to the house.
30 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland with stunning views across the Firth of Forth.
Edinburgh Castle, Castle Hill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH1 2NG, Scotland.
0131 225 9846
FREE ENTRY ON ST ANDREW’S DAY EACH YEAR ( £9.50 admission charge at other times )
This is Edinburgh’s top tourist attraction. The castle includes the tiny St Margaret’s Chapel, The Honours Of The Kingdom, tells the story of Scotland’s Crown Jewels, The Prisoners Of War Exhibition and Mons Meg the cannon which fires at 13.00.
LOTHIANS
Hailes Castle, Off the A1, 1.5 miles SW of East Linton, East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland.
Access at all times
Beautifully situated ruin, incorporating a 13C fortified manor a 16C chapel and 2 vaulted prison pits.
Fast Castle, Off the A1107, 4 miles NW of Coldingham, Coldingham, Berwickshire, Scotland.
Access at all times
Impressive remains of a Home stronghold perched on a cliff above the sea.
Hume Castle, On the B6364, Between Kelso and Greenlaw, Hume, Berwickshire, Scotland.
April – Oct Access at all times Jan – March Key available from the large house opposite the castle.
Ruined castle giving good views of the Tweed Valley and beyond.
