Scotland's Finest Castles
Please take note: Most castles are closed in the autumn and winter. Check before you travel!
Site Rating:
Although the featured attractions, sites and landmarks are always chosen by me, I have made a serious effort to differentiate 4 levels:
- (***) This is, for whatever reason, a very personal favourite! Will definitely be on my itinerary! Could possibly be disappointing for someone else though.
- (**) A major must-see tourist attraction that you can find in many a brochure.
- (*) Worth seeing and possibly interesting if you happen to be in the vicinity.
- (-) A hefty dollop of imagination is a must, but it might be interesting if you know the background.
1 - England (Cumbria & Northumberland)
- Thirlwall Castle * Location: XFQ8+FG Brampton
2 - Lothian & Scottish Borders
- Blackness Castle ** Location: 2F4M+9GF Linlithgow
- Borthwick Castle * Location: RXGR+PQX Gorebridge
- Cessford Castle * Location: GH5M+3QM Kelso
- Crichton Castle *** Location: R2Q5+RMQ Pathhead
- Dirleton Castle *** Location: 26WC+8F9 North Berwick
- Drochil Castle * Location: MMG9+X3V West Linton
- Dryhope Tower * Location: GR6Q+9CV Selkirk
- Dunbar Castle * Location: 2F4M+C45 Dunbar
- Fast Castle *** Location: WQJG+VC Eyemouth
- Ferniehirst Castle ** Location: FC3X+RJG Jedburgh
- Greenknowe Tower ** Location: MCHG+573 Gordon
- Hailes Castle *** Location: X8F8+4MV Haddington
- Hermitage Castle *** Location: 7644+CJC Hawick
- Innerwick Castle * Location: XH4F+7JF Dunbar
- Linlithgow Palace ** Location: XCH2+FHX Linlithgow
- Midhope Castle * Location: XGR6+W9G South Queensferry
- Neidpath Castle ** Location: MQ2P+J3C Peebles
- Newark Castle * Location: H33J+V4M Selkirk
- Redhouse Castle * Location: X4MP+9Q9 Longniddry
- Roxburgh Castle * Location: HGWV+JG7 Kelso
- Smailholm Tower *** Location: JC3F+PF3 Kelso
- Tantallon Castle *** Location: 384X+HW7 North Berwick
- Tinnis Castle * Location: HJWP+CCP Biggar
- Traquair House ** Location: JW5M+4V4 Innerleithen
- Yester Castle * Location: V7RQ+FG7 Haddington
- Caerlaverock Castle *** Location: XFFG+X9X Dumfries
- Cardoness Castle * Location: VRF2+8V8 Castle Douglas
- Carsluith Castle * Location: VM53+Q9G Newton Stewart
- Cruggleton Castle *** Location: QJ5V+389 Newton Stewart
- Dunskey Castle * Location: RVPR+52G Stranraer
- Gilnockie Tower *** Location: 32WH+XMX Canonbie
- Kenmure Castle *** Location: 3V76+7J Castle Douglas
- Lochmaben Castle *** Location: 4H89+GJG Lockerbie
- Morton Castle *** Location: 77F2+PXP Thornhill
- Sanquhar Castle ** Location: 936J+QPF Sanquhar
- Threave Castle *** Location: W2QJ+M7Q Castle Douglas
- Torthorwald Castle * Location: 3FQM+J5C Dumfries
4 - Ayrshire & Arran
- Ardstinchar Castle * Location: 32X2+J3V Girvan
- Auchans Castle - Location: H9GQ+WFW Kilmarnock
- Brodick Castle / Isle of Arran ** Location: HRVX+GJX Isle of Arran
- Carleton Castle * Location: 5379+W4V Girvan
- Crawford Castle * Location: F8FV+VP Biggar
- Culzean Castle ** Location: 9636+V73 Maybole
- Dundonald Castle ** Location: HCG3+P4H Kilmarnock
- Dunure Castle *** Location: C63Q+X8G Ayr
- Glengarnock Castle ** Location: Q8H3+WRR Kilbirnie
- Greenan Castle ** Location: C8QJ+93W Ayr
- Kilbirnie Castle * Location: Q72W+949 Kilbirnie
- Loch Doon Castle ** Location: 6JG7+H8J Ayr
- Lochranza Castle / Isle of Arran ** Location: PP45+5GP Isle of Arran
- Portencross Castle ** Location: M3XW+P3C West Kilbride
5 - Edinburgh
- Craigmillar Castle *** Location: WVG5+7M Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Castle *** Location: WRX2+C2 Edinburgh
- Bothwell Castle *** Location: RW54+Q2 Uddingston, Glasgow
- Aberdour Castle ** Location: 3P42+5V4 Burntisland
- Balgonie Castle * Location: 5VVR+G8 Glenrothes
- Burleigh Castle * Location: 6HGV+99 Kinross
- Lochleven Castle *** Location: 6J25+86 Kinross
- Ravenscraig Castle ** Location: 4V95+W2 Kirkcaldy
- MacDuff's Castle * Location: 5W6R+XR Kirkcaldy
- St Andrews Castle *** Location: 86R5+VW St Andrews
8 - Loch Lomond, Stirling & The Trossachs
- Alloa Tower ** Location: 4666+XM Alloa
- Castle Campbell *** Location: 58FG+W4 Dollar
- Clackmannan Tower ** Location: 465R+45 Clackmannan
- Doune Castle *** Location: 5XP2+32 Doune
- Dumbarton Castle *** Location: WCPP+QR Dumbarton
- Finlarig Castle *** Location: FMFP+W2 Killin
- Stirling Castle *** Location: 43F3+5Q Stirling
- Aros Castle *** Location: G2MM+CW Aros Castle, Isle of Mull
- Asgog Castle * Location: VPM8+H5 Tighnabruaich
- Barcaldine Castle * Location: GH6X+68 Oban
- Carnasserie Castle ** Location: 5G29+FQ Lochgilphead
- Carrick Castle * Location: 435V+HQG Cairndow
- Castle Coeffin ** Location: GGP5+P5 Clachan, Oban
- Castle Stalker ** Location: HJC7+JH Appin
- Castle Sween ** Location: W8XM+6XF Lochgilphead
- Duart Castle *** Location: F84V+FW3 Craignure, Isle of Mull
- Dunadd Fort *** Location: 3GPC+CJ Lochgilphead
- Dunollie Castle * Location: CGG8+MX Oban
- Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel *** Location: FH37+R3P Dunbeg, Oban
- Duntrune Castle *** Location: 4F22+P7 Lochgilphead
- Dunyvaig Castle * Location: JVMG+8RC Isle of Islay
- Fincharn Castle ** Location: 5JP6+4R6 Lochgilphead
- Gylen Castle *** Location: 9CHV+Q8 Upper Gylen, Oban
- Innis Chonnel Castle * Location: 7P4J+JVC Dalmally
- Inveraray Castle ** Location: 6WPG+XH9 Inveraray
- Kilchurn Castle *** Location: CX3F+F4 Dalmally
- Moy Castle ** Location: 943R+W8 Lochbuie, Mull, Isle of Mull
- Old Castle Lachlan ** Location: 4Q5R+96 Barnacarry, Cairndow
- Royal Castle of Tarbert * Location: VH7R+PG Tarbert, Argyll and Bute
- Skipness Castle ** Location: QM97+6H9 Tarbert
- Toward Castle * Location: VX8R+QJV Dunoon
10 - Perth(shire), Angus & Dundee
- Ballinbreich Castle ** Location: 9RC9+CR Cupar
- Balvaird Castle ** Location: 7MQ4+JW Cupar
- Blair Castle ** Location: Q4FR+CQ Blair Atholl, Pitlochry
- Carnbane Castle * Location: JR3V+GJG Balintyre, Aberfeldy
- Castle Menzies *** Location: J4F3+G4 Weem, Aberfeldy
- Edzell Castle ** Location: R869+P6 Brechin
- Elcho Castle *** Location: 9JFW+R4P Perth
- Finavon Castle * Location: M5WG+XM Forfar
- Glamis Castle *** Location: JXCX+38 Forfar
- Huntingtower Castle ** Location: CG56+QJ Perth
- Invermark Castle * Location: W36J+JW Brechin
- Melgund Castle * Location: M7W4+HR Brechin
11 - Fort William, Ben Nevis & Lochaber
- Ardtornish Castle *** Location: G69W+JF Inninbeg, Oban
- Old Inverlochy Castle *** Location: RWJ9+W2 Fort William
- Mingary Castle * Location: MWV9+4W9 Camphouse, Acharacle
- Tioram Castle *** Location: Q5MC+QF Lochailort
- Auchindoun Castle *** Location: CWF7+4P Keith
- Balmoral Castle ** Location: 2QQC+V8 Crathie, Ballater
- Boyne Castle *** Location: M8HW+JR Banff
- Braemar Castle ** Location: 2J75+RG Braemar, Ballater
- Castle Fraser ** Location: 6G3Q+5Q Inverurie
- Corgarff Castle ** Location: 5Q78+38R Strathdon
- Coull Castle * Location: 455V+CCR Aboyne
- Craigievar Castle ** Location: 57FJ+MQ Alford
- Crathes Castle ** Location: 3H66+J3 Banchory
- Drum Castle ** Location: 3MW6+2R Banchory
- Duffus Castle *** Location: MJQQ+55 Elgin
- Dunnottar Castle *** Location: WRW3+C5 Stonehaven
- Dunnydeer Castle * Location: 89R3+WH Insch
- Dunphail Castle * Location: G86R+V8G Forres
- Esslemont Castle * Location: 9V5P+775 Ellon
- Findlater Castle *** Location: M6RH+XQ Banff
- Fyvie Castle ** Location: CJV4+93 Turriff
- Gight Castle *** Location: CPV5+4M Ellon
- Glenbuchat Castle * Location: 62C2+73 Strathdon
- Huntly Castle *** Location: F649+28 Huntly
- Kildrummy Castle *** Location: 63MW+W5 Alford
- Kindrochit Castle * Location: 2J42+5F Braemar, Ballater
- Leslie Castle ** Location: 886M+RX Insch
- Peel of Lumphanan * Location: 47CX+W8 Banchory
- Pitsligo Castle ** Location: MVRV+W6 Fraserburgh
- Red Castle *** Location: MF2Q+5M Arbroath
- Tolquhon Castle ** Location: 8QXP+6P Ellon
13 - Aviemore & The Cairngorms
- Ballindalloch Castle ** Location: CJ6J+P76 Ballindalloch
- Castle Roy * Location: 79G2+V7 Nethy Bridge
- Drumin Castle * Location: 9J4V+G28 Ballindalloch
- Loch-an-Eilean Castle *** Location: 45XH+M46 Aviemore
- Lochindorb Castle * Location: C74R+9JF Grantown-on-Spey
14 - Isle of Skye & Kyle of Lochalsh
- Brochel Castle * Location: CXRF+W8 Brochel, Kyle
- Caisteal Maol * Location: 77FH+3R6 Kyleakin
- Caisteal Uisdean *** Location: GJQC+7H Portree
- Dunscaith Castle ** Location: 42PF+JJ Tokavaig, Isle of Skye
- Duntulm Castle * Location: MMM3+Q5 Portree
- Dunvegan Castle ** Location: CCX5+9X Uiginish, Isle of Skye
- Eilean Donan Castle ** Location: 7FFM+HG Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyle
- Knock (Camus) Castle * Location: 4563+93W Teangue, Isle of Skye
- Strome Castle * Location: 9C5V+MJG Strome Ferry
15 - Inverness, Loch Ness & Nairn
- Balvenie Castle *** Location: FV3G+73X Keith
- Castle Craig * Location: JPV4+9P6 Dingwall
- Cawdor Castle ** Location: G3FG+32 Nairn
- Rait Castle *** Location: G5X2+Q3 Nairn
- Urquhart Castle *** Location: 8HF5+M5 Drumnadrochit, Inverness
16 - Caithness, Sutherland & Ross
- Ackergill Tower * Location: FVFQ+P7R Wick
- Ardvreck Castle ** Location: 5284+H6R Inchnadamph, Lairg
- Bucholly Castle *** Location: HWGP+C82 Wick
- Caisteal Bharraich ** Location: FHG7+8MF Tongue, Lairg
- Castle Leod *** Location: HFX8+92 Strathpeffer
- Castle of Mey ** Location: JQWG+R3 Mey, Thurso
- Castle of Old Wick ** Location: CWF9+77 Wick
- Castles Sinclair & Girnigoe *** Location: FWHJ+2QR Wick
- Dunrobin Castle ** Location: X3J3+PW8 Golspie
- Old Keiss Castle ** Location: GVPR+WV Wick
- Skelbo Castle ** Location: WXH5+WG Dornoch