Castles

Castles of Scotland

Historically, there were between 3 & 4000 castles in Scotland. Currently, there are approximately 1500 remaining, from completely intact to single stone walls. The following represent some of the most dramatic castles still drawing tourists from around the world.

Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye, ancestral home of the Macleod Clan

Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye, ancestral home of the MacLeod Clan

Dunrobin Castle, Northern Highlands, ancestral home of the Sutherland Clan

Castle Stalker, on Loch Laich, ancestral ownership by both the MacDougalls and the Stewarts

Castle Stalker was also made famous in the Monty Python Movie Search for the Holy Grail, as Castle Aarrrgggghhhhh

A study in contrasts…. the very new and the very old

Eilean Donan Castle, in the western Highlands, located at the confluence of Lochs Duich, Long, and Alsh

Historically, this was 1st the home of Clan MacKenzie from Kintail, followed in the 1600’s by Clan MacRae

Doune Castle, located in the town of Doune - used as a location shot for both Monty Python & Game of Thrones

Sterling Castle, in the City of Sterling, ancestral home of many Scottish kings, as well as Mary Queen of Scots

The Great Hall was added on to Sterling Castle by James IV, more than 500 years ago