10 Most Beautiful Castles in Scotland

Scottish castles are rugged and stark. There is no fairy tale quality about them, but visitors can conjure up visions of knights in shining armor who fought the good fight for their clan and country. Scottish castles were built mostly for defense and frequently sit atop cliffs overlooking lochs and ocean, making them seemingly impregnable. These stone structures today evoke a sense of grace and peace. They are awe-inspiring, to say the least.

10Dunnottar Castle

flickr/spike77

Dunnottar Castle has a high wow factor, sitting as it does atop a cliff overlooking the northeast coast of Scotland. This medieval fortress is now in ruins, but has a rich history connected to Scottish persona such as William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots and Charles II before he became king. It is perhaps most famous as the site where a small garrison held out for eight months against Cromwell’s army, thus saving the Scottish crown jewels. Couch potatoes may want to avoid this castle, as getting there involves a steep walk with many steps.

9Duart Castle

flickr/S McK

Duart Castle, located on the Isle of Mull, started out as a rectangular stone wall surrounding a courtyard. The castle passed to a Scottish chief as part of the dowry his bride brought to the marriage back in the mid 14th century. It fell into ruins over the centuries; for the last 400 years it has been considered the ancestral home of the Maclean clan. Visitors to the castle today will see a stone castle perched upon a hill overlooking the Sound of Mull. The Macleans have been restoring the castle for the last two decades, but visitors can still walk through the dungeons and admire the castle’s strategic position at the end of a peninsula.

8Urquhart Castle

flickr/Shadowgate

Urquhart Castle was once considered one of Scotland’s largest castles, but today pretty much only the tower house remains of this medieval fortress. Oh, and the stunning views overlooking Loch Ness. Its history is anything but peaceful since it changed hands between England and Scotland as well as between clans. The last invaders blew it up in 1692 so it could never be used as a military stronghold again. Today its claim to fame lies in its medieval artifacts and that more people claim to have seen the Loch Ness Monster from this location than any other on the loch.

7Balmoral Castle

flickr/Nick Bramhall

Balmoral Castle started out as a hunting lodge for King Robert II in the 14th century. Various royal residents have added to it over the years and now contains a wide variety of landscapes. Though the present building looks like a castle it is considered an estate in the Baronial architectural style. It is most known today as the holiday home for British royalty. The grounds and many rooms are open to the public, though some rooms are considered the queen’s private rooms. In 2014, the castle will only be open for public viewing April through July.

6Inveraray Castle

wikipedia/StaraBlazkova

Inveraray Castle is considered a must-see on Scotland’s west coast. Home to the Dukes of Argyll for centuries; it took 43 years to build and then was partially destroyed by a fire in 1877. Castle rooms tell the story of the Campbell Clan, once the most powerful clan in Scotland. The castle has formal gardens and an extensive collection of weaponry, which parents say fascinated their children. The castle, open only between April and October, features a tea room that offers traditional Scottish fare.

5Stirling Castle

flickr/bobsee

Stirling Castle was considered the arts center of Scotland in the 16th century, but it also was important historically and strategically as home to many of the country’s kings. Stirling Castle is huge, giving visitors many opportunities to see how Scottish royalty lived, including the royal palace and chapel where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in 1534. The castle is also famous as the site where Robert Burns wrote many of his poems.

4Edinburgh Castle

flickr/VerseVend

Edinburgh Castle is a magnificent example of Scotland’s architecture, ideology, political tact and military importance. High up on the summit of a dormant volcano lurks this dominating structure. Its presence is visible for miles in every direction. Intimidating all who would challenge them, the Scottish utilized Edinburgh Castle for all of their major battles and military strategizing. A strong standing symbol of their perseverance and struggle for independence, Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland’s top attractions.

3Culzean Castle

flickr/mat's eye

Culzean Castle is considered one of Scotland’s most popular attractions. The castle originally belonged to the Kennedy clan, which is descended from Robert the Bruce, but it wasn’t until the late 18th century the present, stunning castle was built. After World War II, the castle’s top floor was converted for use by then-General Dwight Eisenhower in appreciation of American support during the war; these rooms are now a hotel. The castle now displays 18th century upper-class furnishings and one of the world’s largest collections of swords and pistols, all surrounded by a 600-acre park.

2Glamis Castle

flickr/macieklew

Glamis Castle has ties to royalty, since Queen Elizabeth II grew up here as did her mother, the Queen Mum, and Princess Margaret was born here. Located in a prehistoric village, Shakespeare’s Macbeth was once the thane of Glamis. Even earlier, the Scottish King Malcolm was murdered here. Today, it is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Scotland, set amid green trees and grass. Home to the earls of Strathmore for 600-plus years, visitors today can enjoy a walk in the formal gardens or take a guided tour of the historic rooms.

1Eilean Donan

flickr/Skepsis

Eilean Donan Castle was built on land that was inhabited as early as the 6th century, although the first fortified castle was built for another 700 years. The castle was partially destroyed in an uprising in early 1719, and then fell into ruins for a couple of hundred years. Now fully restored, the castle sits on an island connected to the mainland by a stone footbridge. It is named for a Celtic saint who was martyred here in 617. Located in the Highlands, Eilean Donan is considered one of the country’s most romantic castles. It has appeared in several films including Highlander and The World Is Not Enough.