Scotland's Best Castles

Perched on volcanic rock at the top of the Royal Mile. Home to the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. The One O'Clock Gun fires every day (except Sundays). Yes, it's touristy. Yes, you should still go — once. Buy tickets online in advance. Go first thing in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the worst crowds.

The castle on every Scotland calendar. Perched where three lochs meet, connected by a stone bridge. The exterior is free to photograph from the bridge. The interior tour is fine but not essential — the money shot is from the far side of the stone bridge. Stop here on the drive to Skye. It's especially good at sunrise or in winter when the peaks behind have snow.

Arguably Scotland's most historically important castle — the site of battles that defined the nation. The Great Hall (restored to its 16th-century golden glory), the Royal Palace, and the kitchens are all excellent. New in 2025: Secret Stirling Tours give access to hidden rooms including King James VI's graffiti. Better interior experience than Edinburgh Castle and half the crowds.

Ruins sprawled across a headland on Loch Ness. The Grant Tower gives the best view on the loch — turquoise water stretching 23 miles in both directions. The visitor centre has a good short film on the loch's history and the monster legend. Combine with a boat cruise from Drumnadrochit for a different angle.

A ruined fortress on a cliff-girt headland, reachable only by a steep path and steps. This is where the Scottish Crown Jewels were hidden from Cromwell's army in 1652. The setting feels like something from Game of Thrones — because it basically is. The walk down from the car park is steep but paved. Worth the detour from Aberdeen.

Home to Clan MacLeod for 800 years. The castle is interesting but the gardens are the highlight — five acres of woodland, waterfalls, water lilies, and exotic plants that shouldn't survive at this latitude. Seal boat trips depart from the castle jetty (£10, about 25 minutes). Book online in summer.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Outlander (Castle Leoch). Game of Thrones (Winterfell in the pilot). Doune has one of the best film CVs of any castle anywhere. The audio tour is narrated by Terry Jones from Monty Python and is genuinely funny. The great hall is remarkably intact for a 14th-century castle.

Still a family home. The Cawdor family still live here, and it shows — rooms feel inhabited rather than museum-displayed. The gardens are the real star: a flower garden, walled garden, and wild garden with paths through woodland. Himalayan blue poppies bloom in early summer. The Macbeth connection is historically spurious but atmospherically satisfying.

Childhood home of the Queen Mother and setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth. Turrets, towers, and a serious ghost count — a woman with no face, a boy servant, and a phantom card game are all reported. The guided tour is excellent and leans into the stories. The gardens are extensive and free to wander after the tour.

A four-storey tower house on a tiny tidal island in Loch Laich. This is the "Castle Aaaaargh" from Monty Python. You can't visit without booking a boat tour (£25, very limited availability), but the view from the A828 roadside pull-off is one of the best castle photos in Scotland. Best at high tide when the castle is surrounded by water.

A 15th-century ruin at the head of Loch Awe with one of the most beautiful settings in Scotland. Free to walk around the exterior. The interior is closed for conservation but the walk across the marshy field from the car park gets you close enough. Best photographed from the A819 lay-by across the loch, especially at sunrise when the castle reflects in still water.

The seat of Clan Campbell, with a fairy-tale conical tower profile and an interior full of armour, tapestries, and an 18th-century state dining room. The armoury hall contains the second-largest collection of Brown Bess muskets in the world. The gardens have a bluebell wood that's spectacular in May.