Scotland

Aberdour is an attractive castle built in three distinct stages, the most recent of which is still roofed. Aberdour Castle History The original tower house was built in the 14th Century and part of a fallen corner now sits precariously below the ruins. The central range, which contained a kitchen in the vaulted ground floor […]

Torosay Castle History Torosay Castle is really just a Victorian baronial mansion, dating from 1858 and designed by David Bryce. Originally known as Duart House, it was renamed Torosay when Duart Castle was restored. It was built for John Campbell but the expense forced him to sell it in 1865. The Guthrie family, whose descendants,

Skipness Castle is like a square tower house with a walled courtyard to the southwest of it today. Skipness Castle History However, the castle has a complicated history, as it was extended over the years. Only fragments of the ancient hall survive in the north wall of the courtyard, through which a gateway was made

Rothesay Castle is located in the center of Rothesay. This circular plan castle of enclosure still stands in its most and is one of Scotland’s oldest castles. Entry is made over a wooden bridge to the Forework, which is a vaulted passage over which is the great hall. A ladder descends to the pit prison,

Kilchurn Castle History Kilchurn is well known for its regular appearance on calendars. A footpath from near the East End of the Orchy Bridge leads to the castle, built on a rock in the midst of what was an islet in the loch. Entry is made through the vaulted ground floor of the tower, the

Inveraray Castle History Inveraray Castle is a Gothic mansion built between 1743 and 1770 and designed by Roger Morris. The castle is located in the town of Inveraray in Argyll. William and Robert Adam were also involved at a later date. The castle replaced an older baronial building, which was demolished. Inveraray was altered in

Dunstaffnage Castle is an impressive fortress comprising a curtain wall built on a solid boss. Dunstaffnage Castle History A steep stair and wooden platform lead to the entrance door, with a passageway into the courtyard. The gatehouse dates from c.1500, and the upper floors were added c.1600. This block is still roofed, being restored in

Duart Castle History Duart Castle was built by the MacLeans in the 13th century on a headland guarding the Sound of Mull, on the Isle of Mull. It was mostly been in MacLean hands ever since, though it was forfeited during the Jacobite uprising. The great tower stands at the west corner of the courtyard,

Castle Sween is a magnificent building standing on a low headland that projects into Loch Sween. Castle Sween History Tradition states that the castle was built by Sweyn, or Sueno, Prince of Denmark, in the 11th century, but certainly, nothing of the present structure is as old. The MacSweens, or MacSuibhnes, held the fortress until

Carnasserie Castle is currently a ruined tower house in Carnasserie. History of Carnasserie John Carswell, who was granted the Protestant Bishopric of the Isles in 1567 and was the translator of Knox’s Liturgy into Gaelic, built the castle in 1565. The castle passed to the Campbells of Auchinbreck in 1572; an old gateway to the

Barcaldine Castle History Barcaldine Castle is a particularly attractive L-planned tower house, completed in 1609 by Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy. The castle was an integral part of the Massacre of Glencoe, for MacIan of Glencoe was detained here for 24 hours in a plot to prevent him from swearing the oath of allegiance to

Threave Castle History Threave Castle in Galloway is one of the earliest tower house castles in Scotland. It was built around the year 1369 by Archibald Douglas, nicknamed Archibald the Grim, to mark his elevation to the lordship of Galloway. Tower houses first appeared in the 14th century, and quickly replaced the earlier fashion in

Orchardton Tower History Orchardton Tower is unique in Scotland, being the only example of a cylindrical tower house. It is solidly built of granite, and the rock foundations are bared at one point. On the ground floor is a vaulted cellar, entered through an arched doorway. An external stairway leads to the first floor. The

Morton Castle History Morton Castle stands on a headland above a small loch at the foot of the Lowther Hills. It is a massive hall-type castle and much of the work dates from the late 13th century. A pathway leads to the entrance gateway, only one lower tower of which survives, but the dressed stones

Lochmaben Castle stands on a low headland projecting into the Castle Loch, a spot that formerly was an island. The ruins are extensive, but most of the dressed sandstone has been robbed over the years, leaving crumbling rubble. To the south, the walls reach their highest, with a great entrance over a ditch. The drawbridge

Dumbarton Castle History Dumbarton Castle has the longest recorded history of any fort in Britain. Built on a volcanic plug, this was the ancient capital of Strathclyde, which was an independent kingdom until 1018. Mary, Queen of Scots left Dumbarton Castle for France in 1548 at the age of five. The Dumbarton Rock has been

A vast pink sandstone mansion, Drumlanrig is a transition between the traditional castle and the country house. It has four towers, many turrets, and spiral stairs. It was built between 1679 and 1691 for the 1st Duke of Queensberry (Douglas) who was so incensed at the cost that he spent only one night within it,

Drumcoltran Tower is an attractive small rubble-built house, located in the middle of a farmsteading. Drumcoltran Tower History Drumcoltran was built around 1550 for the Maxwell family, with Sir John Maxwell marrying the Herries heiress. A Latin motto over the door translates as “Conceal secrets, be timid of speech, be truthful, beware of wine, remember

Castle of St. John History Known also as Chapel or Stranraer Castle, this tall tower stands in the middle of the town. Built of grey stone, it has sandstone dressings. It is four stories tall, with each floor vaulted, and a turnpike in a projection leads to them all. A worn panel is over the

Cardoness is a tall square tower standing on a low hillock to the west of Gatehouse. Lower vaulted cellars are located below the tower to the south, and a ramp leads to the entrance doorway. Cardoness Castle History The MacCullochs built Cardoness in the late 15th century. Alexander MacCulloch, laird between 1509-13 was keeper of

Stirling is a castle situated in the central region of Scotland. Stirling Castle History Stirling Castle was built overlooking the River Forth at a strategically important junction of routes by both land and water, where there was the additional advantage of a high volcanic outcrop as a natural setting for the royal castle required to

Menstrie Castle Facts Now located in the midst of a housing scheme, most part of the Menstrie Castle has been subdivided into flats. Externally the structure comprises random rubble, with corner turrets, and a vaulted pond through the middle of the building. The ground floor to the left of the gateway is now the Nova

Doune Castle History Doune Castle was built at the end of the fourteenth century by Robert Stewart, the first Duke of Albany and Earl of Menteith and Fife. The Doune Castle represented the principal stronghold of the earldom of Menteith. It was protected on the north by a dry ditch, and a series of earthworks

Castle Campbell History A winding road up Dollar Glen leads to the entrance gateway of Castle Campbell, spectacularly sited on a promontory of rock. The 15th-century tower stands to the left, with a vaulted room on the ground floor, a vaulted great hall over this with a large fireplace, and a prison with a pit

Alloa Tower History One of the largest towers in Scotland, Alloa Tower has had a chequered history. Built-in the 14th century, it was added to various periods. A mansion was attached in the 18th century, but when it burned down in August 1800, its replacement was located elsewhere. The tower has a fine selection of

Airth Castle History The existing ancient portions of the old Place of Airth are very extensive. The East Wing of Airth Castle is almost certainly the oldest part. It consists of a square tower with two unequal-sized turrets at its front corners. The West Wing, which is alleged to be as old as the time

Thirlestane Castle History One of the finest castles in Scotland, Thirlestane is a confection of turrets, dormers, and balustrades with random rubble walls dressed with sandstone. The oldest part of the castle dates from 1590, but it was remodeled in the 1670s and 1840s, creating a T-shaped pile. The castle has always been the property

Smailholm Tower History Smailholm Tower is an impressive structure famed in Border ballad and associated with Sir Walter Scott, who spent some of his childhood recuperating at Sandyknowe Farm in 1773. A sturdy rectangular tower, built of rubble with sandstone dressings, it perches on a rock outcrop. The rock had a barking wall around it,

Romantically situated on a bend of the River Tweed, just one mile west of Peebles, Neidpath is a well-known castle by sight. The Hays erected the tower around 1370. The family later became Lords Hay of Yester and then Earls of Tweeddale. In 1686 the estate was sold to the Douglas Dukes of Queensberry, one

Hermitage Castle is one of the most remote castles in the Scottish Borders. Hermitage Castle History Hermitage is a very fine and sizeable castle of the 14th and 15th centuries and stands by the side of the Hermitage Water. The low arched doorway leads to the courtyard, at one time the center of a 14th-century

Floors Castle is the seat of the Duke of Roxburghe. The castle is located near the town of Kelso and is currently an A-listed building. Floors Castle History The 1st Duke of Roxburghe employed William Adam to design the present large mansion (the largest in Scotland) which was erected between 1721 and 1726. In 1837-47,

Drumlanrig’s Tower is quite a unique towerhouse regarding its location and history. Situated in the heart of Hawick, it was for many years part of the Tower Hotel until it closed in the 1990s and opened in 1995 as a tourist and interpretative center. Drumlanrig’s Tower History William Douglas erected the ‘Black Tower of Drumlanrig’

Cessford Castle lies on the route of St Cuthbert’s Way one of three nationally recognized long-distance footpaths that cross the Border Region. Cessford Castle History Cessford Castle is one of the most important historic and architectural monuments in the Scottish Borders. Built in around 1450 it is a substantial structure with massive defensive walls some

Ayton Castle History Ayton Castle is a neo-baronial red sandstone castle, built between 1845 and 1848 for William Mitchell-Innes, to the plans of James Gillespie-Graham. Further additions and extensions were carried out by architects David Bryce and James Maitland, including the addition of a Billiard room and an extension of the present drawing room between

Aikwood Castle (Aikwood Tower) was built in 1535, and it is located 6 km away from the town of Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders. Aikwood Tower History James V granted the lands of Aikwood to Michael Scott in 1517, though the tower may not have been erected until around 1535. A datestone commemorates the marriage

Lochranza Castle History Located on a narrow spit of land that projects into Loch Ranza, Lochranza Castle was built of grey stone with red sandstone dressings. The doorway was added in the 16th century, with the earlier doorways being blocked, one of which was located at the first-floor level. The Montgomerie family as it is

Kelburn Castle History The Boyle family have owned Kelburn since 1140, becoming Earls of Glasgow in 1703. The first Earl assisted in the Union of Parliaments. The 7th Earl was Governor of New Zealand from 1892-1897. John Boyle erected the Z-plan tower house in 1581, with the main block four stories tall with circular towers

A massive pile crowning a prominent hill, Dundonald Castle can be seen for many miles around. Dundonald Castle History The present ruins date from the 3rd castle to occupy the site and before that there was a fort of the Dark Ages. The first castle was erected in the late 12th century, made mainly of

Dean Castle History Located in a 200-acre country park, the keep of Dean Castle dates back to around 1350. It has a palace and barbican added in 1460. A Victorian mansion is now the castle shop, where guided tours commence. The castle was burned in 1735 and lay in ruins until the restoration of 1908-46.

History of Culzean Castle Set in 568 acres of policies, Culzean is a magnificent Robert Adam castle of 1772-1792, built for the Earl of Cassillis. Situated on a cliff top, an older Kennedy Tower house was incorporated at the time of building. The grand circular saloon overlooks the Firth of Clyde with magnificent views of

Brodick Castle is located on the Isle of Arran. Brodick Castle History From the entrance hall, with 87 stags heads, one reaches the Duchess’s dressing room, bedroom, and boudoir, all sumptuously furnished. A small staircase reaches Bruce’s room, which is vaulted and was once used as a prison. There are many horseracing mementos in the

Baltersan Castle is situated near Maybole. Baltersan Castle History According to an inscription (now illegible) on the entrance lintel, it was built in 1584 for John Kennedy of Pennyglen and Margaret Cathcart, his spouse. A closer inspection of the building and historic records suggests differently though. Instead of being the main house of a small