Many European countries are known for their castles–from the fairytale fortresses of Germany to Ireland’s castles set amid fields of green. Scotland doesn’t always get as much buzz around its castles, but there’s something special about Scottish strongholds, which mix stalwart exteriors with a touch of mystery and magic. This is the land of the Lochness Monster, after all.
You can get a rental car and road trip between towns, but basing a road trip or day excursion around castles is one of the finest ways to see Scotland as these structures dot the country…and not only capture the beauty of the country, but also the things that make it unique–its history and its amazing geography.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is surrounded by–you guessed it–the city of Edinburgh! But don’t let the lack of rolling hills bother you. Set on the remains of an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle perches above Old Town. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Scotland, but even hordes of tourists can’t detract from the awesomeness that is this castle. Walk in past statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace at the front. Admire the Portcullis Gate. Peek inside St. Margaret’s Chapel (the oldest building in Edinburgh) or marvel at the grandeur of the Great Room. Visit in August and you’ll also find one of the largest happenings anywhere in Scotland–the Military Tattoo.
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral is a private residence of the royal family (the Queen generally spends her holidays here). Because of that, don’t expect a full tour of the interior, but visitors can explore the grounds, gardens and one room–the Castle Ballroom. While some may miss the opportunity to explore inside (look to other castles if that’s a priority for you), the grounds are beautiful. Balmoral is located in Aberdeenshire and is not too far from Dunnottar Castle…or any other number of castles in the vicinity!
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle is all about dramatic scenery–perched on an island at the confluence of three lakes (or lochs since you’re in Scotland). You want the ultimate castle photo? Visit this castle. Built in the 13th century, it’s quite historic, but suffered severe damage in a Jacobite uprising in the 1700s. After that, Eilean Donan was mostly in ruins until an extensive restoration in the 1930s, which aimed to bring the castle back to its original glory. If you’re a Highlander movie fan, Eilean Donan is also the filming location of several scenes in the movie. For roadtripping, Eilean Donan makes a great combo visit with the Isle of Skye, which is just a short drive and then ferry ride away.
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle dates back to at least the early 1100s, but most of the castle dates to the Renaissance. The castle’s history is filled with all kinds of historic happenings, from the crowning of Mary Queen of Scots to a siege by Bonnie Prince Charlie (an unsuccessful one). Today, Stirling Castle is one of the best in all of Scotland for an immersive visitor experience. Costumed staff are stationed in each room and are more than simply part of the atmosphere–they’re also super knowledgeable. Stirling Castle is also colorful, renovated to look as it would have in the mid-16th century, and it makes a great day trip from either Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Dunnottar Castle
Perched on cliffs above the North Sea, Dunnottar Castle is now in ruins, but castles in ruins are still breathtaking to visit (and they look superb in photos, too). Count on a hike up some stairs (okay, lots of stairs), but the views are worth it as you stand 160 feet above the sea surrounded by over three acres of ruins. As with many Scottish castles, some aspects of the site date back farther in time than the castle itself, but one of the coolest mentions of the castle in written antiquity is in a 13th-century Arthurian legend (called the Roman de Fergus) in which a character must go to the castle to get a magic mirror. Dunnottar is located near Stonehaven. In fact, you can walk to the castle from Stonehaven, but there’s also plenty of public transportation and it’s not a tough drive to make. Do be warned the parking lot for the castle is small as they like to encourage green modes of transport.
Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle has been in ruins since about the 1770s, but has long been admired for its beauty anyway. Like Dunnottar, Urquhart Castle is situated above a body of water. In this case, that body of water is Loch Ness so you can pair a bit of Nessie spotting with your castle explorations. By car, Urquhart is about a half hour away from Inverness, but you can also go for the gold and make the drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow, both about 3.5 hours away.
Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle is the most fairytale of Scotland’s castles. Even its name offers a hint–Glamis sounds a little glamorous, doesn’t it? The castle was the childhood home of The Queen Mother and birthplace of Princess Margaret. It’s also a castle rife with legends and tales of hauntings. Of all the castles on this list, Glamis is one of most solid day trips simply because of its wealth of things to do. You can wander the grounds or take a tour, but there’s also a restaurant, a coffee shop and events throughout the year. Glamis is just outside of Dundee, but is fantastically located to make a great day trip or even half day trip from Edinburgh (80 miles away), Glasgow (84 miles away) and other cities.
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Photo credits:
Edinburgh Castle: dun_deagh via Flickr
Balmoral Castle: bgeissl via Flickr
Eilean Donan Castle: Shemsu.Hor via Flickr
Stirling Castle: Stirling Council via Flickr
Dunnottar Castle: Christian Kadluba via Flickr
Urquhart Castle: Giuseppe Milo via Flickr
Glamis Castle: Shemsu.Hor via Flickr