Scotland is a beautiful country to visit with some stunning landscapes and countryside to view. There is a rich history of castles in Scotland dotted all throughout the country.
Most have a story to tell with some having played important parts in the development of the Scottish nation through the years. Many of the castles around Scotland are now tourist attractions and are open to allow visitors to view their histories, with most being fascinating places to spend some time.
Having been born and brought up in Dundee and spent many years of my life living and working in Scotland, I have had the chance to see many of the castles the country has to offer. While I have probably only seen a handful of the many, many castles there are, these are five of my favorites.
Stirling Castle
Both attractions tower over the surrounding countryside and are a fantastic sight to see especially in the evening when they are lit up. Stirling Castle sits on a volcanic rock above the city and from the center of the town it is a fairly short, uphill walk to get there. It is well worth doing as the castle has many great sights and much of it is open to tourists.
The first records of a castle in the location date back almost 900 years, although much of the castle that is in place today was constructed during the 15th and 16th centuries. It has seen much Scottish history during its life and was the location of the birth, crowning or death of many of the Scottish royals.
It was also a strategically important location as for a long time is stood guard over the furthest downstream crossing of the River Forth and this made it much sought after. During its history it has endured at least 16 sieges although with its well defended location it was never an easy castle to take. Some of the best features to view during a tour include the esplanade at the entrance, the Chapel Royal, the Forework Gatehouse and the Great Hall.
Urquhart Castle
Although this castle is now largely a ruin, its spectacular location on the banks of Loch Ness makes it a great place to visit. It has an excellent visitor center and the first thing to do when you get there is go and watch a short movie about the history of the castle. The movie is shown on a screen which covers a large window.
As the movie ends the screen opens up to reveal the castle and Loch Ness. It is a great way to see the castle for the first time and after this you can go out to it and get a closer look. It is a beautiful location and you can also get some great views out over Loch Ness and this gives you the chance to try and get a picture of the famous Loch Ness monster “Nessy”.
Urquhart Castle Home of the Grant Clan – Photo by JeffBlanke from Getty Images
The castle was constructed more than 800 years ago and during its history was the scene of a number of battles, with the ownership changing many times. However it fell into decline during the 17th century and was largely destroyed at this time. It is now a popular tourist attraction and is an excellent location to visit if you travel to the north of Scotland.
Eilean Donan Castle
If you are travelling through the stunning Scottish landscape between Inverness and the Isle of Skye you will see this castle and will definitely have to stop. It is one of the most picturesque locations in Scotland. It is a small castle that sits on an island at the confluence of three lochs and is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
The castle was originally constructed around seven hundred years ago and during its history has been destroyed and rebuilt on at least 4 occasions. The castle you will visit today is a reconstruction which was carried out in the early 1900’s after it had lain in ruins for nearly two centuries. It is a great place to stop for some refreshments and to go on a tour of the castle during which most of it can be viewed. If you get the chance this is definitely a castle to visit.
Glamis Castle
This is not too far from where I grew up in Dundee and is a beautiful castle and grounds. It was the childhood home of the mother of the current Queen and there are a couple of exhibitions which can be viewed, one which shows details of the Queen Mother and the other which shows details of the castle itself. There is also a guided tour where you are taken around the interior of the castle and shown some of the many sights it has to offer.
The gardens are also beautifully arranged and a walk around these is a must during a visit. The castle was originally constructed more than 600 years ago, although throughout its history it has been updated and added to on a regular basis. The castle and grounds as they stand today were completed by 1910 and are definitely worth a visit if you are ever in central Scotland.
Edinburgh Castle
This probably has to rank as the most famous castle and one of the top tourist attractions in Scotland. A visit to it is a must if you are ever in Edinburgh, from the walk up the Royal Mile to get there to the many great attractions it has to offer. Construction of the castle can be traced back almost 900 years and it has been an important location in Scottish history from that time until the present day.
On a visit you can view the Scottish crown jewels, one of the oldest medieval siege guns called Mons Meg, the Stone of Destiny which was used at the coronation ceremonies of many Scottish royals and the impressive Great Hall. There are also a number of other attractions to see and this makes it a great place to have a day out.
Scotland is a wonderful country to visit and the castles mentioned above are some of its top attractions. These are the favorite castles that I have visited although there are many, many more around the country. If you ever get the chance to travel to Scotland take the time to visit some of the castles and you will learn some of the unique history of the county and have a great day out also.