From Edinburgh to the Highlands: 8 Gorgeous Scotland Castles to Visit

Written by Dalene Heck / Photography by Pete & Dalene Heck

When you hit the road with a brand new traveller, it can be challenging to plan. When I asked our niece Katie what she wanted to do on our trip to Scotland, her answer was…”I don’t know WHAT I like.”

I appreciated her deeply honest answer as it made a lot of sense…how could she know she’d be fascinated by Scotland castles until she saw her first one? 

Soon after arriving, her preferences became clear, and castles became a priority for our trip. Thankfully, there are an extraordinary number of castles in Scotland! Estimates suggest there are around 3,000 across the country, more per square kilometre than almost anywhere else in the world. This remarkable concentration reflects centuries of clan rivalries, royal power struggles, and the need to control Scotland’s many strategically important glens, lochs, and coastlines. 

As such, we planned driving routes to see a bunch, and the more we saw, the more Katie refined her desires. It wasn’t fancy, well-preserved castles she wanted to see, but those that were in ruins, and even better if she could climb around on them. (Real quote from Katie: “I don’t like fancy shit. Give me the old, decrepit stuff.”)

Which led us to produce our somewhat odd (but lovely!) list below. Some of the castles are “fancy shit”, but there’s also some “decrepit stuff”, to suit any traveller’s needs!

Don’t Miss These 8 Gorgeous Scotland Castles

Edinburgh Castle

Yes, this is definitely one of the fancier and better-preserved castles! It wasn’t Katie’s favourite, but we couldn’t deny the appeal.

Perched dramatically atop an ancient volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle is the crown jewel of Scotland’s castles, and the country’s most-visited paid attraction. The castle’s royal connections stretch back 1,000 years, and the city’s oldest building still stands on the site: St Margaret’s Chapel, built around 1130 by King David I as a tribute to his devout mother. It still hosts weddings and christenings today.

Edinburgh has been besieged more than any other castle in Europe, and in 1314, Thomas Randolph, a relative of Robert the Bruce, led a daring night raid to reclaim it from the English. Since 1861, the castle has fired the famous One O’Clock Gun as a time signal for ships in the Firth of Forth, a tradition that continues to this day. 

Allow at least two to three hours to explore this iconic fortress properly, and be especially prepared for crowds. Some buildings had significant lineups to get into (we were short on time, so skipped them). Be sure to purchase your ticket in advance to secure your preferred day and time of entry (or book a guided tour), as daily entries will often sell out.

Dunnottar Castle

Few Scotland castles can match Dunnottar for sheer drama. Perched 160 feet above the waves, this cliff-top ruin looks like something straight out of a fantasy novel. The ruins are spread over 1.4 hectares, surrounded by steep cliffs that drop to the North Sea, with a narrow strip of land joining the headland to the mainland.

It is not one of the most talked-about castles, but for Pete and me, it was a clear standout from the rest. The views are spectacular, the castle grounds are a veritable maze and so fun to navigate. It even fulfilled Katie’s desire to climb around on it!

It also has an impressive history. William Wallace attacked an English garrison here in 1297, and Mary Queen of Scots visited on two separate occasions, while James VI stayed in 1580. 

But Dunnottar’s most celebrated moment came in the 1650s, when the castle played a famous role in saving the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish Crown Jewels) from Oliver Cromwell’s army. During Cromwell’s eight-month siege, the crown, ceremonial sword, and sceptre were smuggled out of the castle by a church minister’s wife and successfully hidden for nine years. 

Getting here requires descending and climbing over 200 steps, but the views from the clifftop are worth every single one. You can buy tickets in advance, but it seems less urgent than at other castles (there was hardly anyone else there when we visited). If you’re staying in Aberdeen, consider this guided tour to see even more of the dramatic coastline.

Eilean Donan Castle

Arguably the most photographed of all Scotland castles, Eilean Donan sits on a small tidal island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and is connected to the mainland by a graceful stone footbridge. 

The first fortified structure on the island wasn’t built until the early 13th century, as a defensive measure to protect against Viking raiders who controlled much of the north and west of Scotland. The castle became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and Clan MacRae, whose descendants remain its Constables to this day. 

You might recognize it from a couple of movies: Highlander and The World Is Not Enough. If you are driving to the Isle of Skye, Eilean Donan is on the way! We were completely captivated during our visit; we arrived just after a rainstorm had passed, and rainbows led our way. While you can just visit the exterior, we bought tickets to go inside, but I cut my visit short. If you’re claustrophobic like me, beware that the crowds of people in little rooms and narrow stairways may prove to be too much.

If you want a guided tour of the castle, you have a few options:

• This day tour from Inverness will show you the castle and some Isle of Skye highlights.
• This 2-day Highlands tour from Edinburgh will show you all the beauty of the area.
• Another 2-day tour, this time from Glasgow.

Dunvegan Castle

On the Isle of Skye, Dunvegan Castle holds a record that no other Scotland castle can claim: it is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years.

The stories of Dunvegan begin with Leod Olafson, born around 1200 and son of Olaf the Black, the Norse King of the Isle of Man. His descendants, the MacLeods, built and expanded the castle over the centuries, and what visitors see today has a unified Victorian exterior, but beneath that outer skin lies a series of five separate buildings, each with its own unique character and story. 

Sadly, we arrived too late to be able to enter the castle, but to be honest, we came more for the gardens! The grounds are impeccably maintained and worth a wander. If you want a guided tour of the Isle of Skye that includes a stop here, book this one from Inverness.

Duntulm Castle

For sheer atmosphere, few Scotland castles we visited can match Duntulm. Clinging to the edge of a basalt cliff (dropping 15ms to rocks below) on the remote northern tip of Skye’s Trotternish Peninsula, Duntulm offers sweeping views towards the Outer Hebrides.

The site is believed to have been first fortified in the Iron Age, later strengthened by the Norse, and subsequently by the MacLeods of Skye. It was abandoned by them around 1730 in favour of nearby Monkstadt House. The best part: the castle comes complete with spooky ghost stories. One tale tells of a cousin of the clan chief who plotted to seize power, was eventually captured, and left to die in the dungeon with nothing but a plate of salty beef and an empty water pitcher.

The site is freely accessible year-round, though to our dismay, much of the ruins are fenced off due to structural instability. Apparently, part of the structure has already collapsed into the sea in relatively recent years. Even though Duntulm is small, it is a quick stop off the route and well worth it for the views.

Urquhart Castle

If you’re making the pilgrimage to Loch Ness, a stop at Urquhart Castle is non-negotiable. Situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness, Urquhart is one of the largest castles in Scotland by area and one of the most romantic ruins you may ever see (second only to Dunnottar, for us).

The castle dates to the 13th century, but the site’s history goes back much further. Around 580 AD, the Irish missionary St Columba came to the area to baptize a Pictish nobleman, and Pictish artifacts have been found at the site. The castle played a central role in the Wars of Scottish Independence, changing hands repeatedly between the Scots and the English.

The Grant Tower is by far the best-preserved part of the castle, and you can explore its various levels via a very narrow spiral staircase, enjoying sweeping views south over the castle and east and north over Loch Ness. Don’t miss the full-sized trebuchet near the ruins (a formidable replica of a medieval siege weapon), or the gloomy, dramatically lit prison cell. 

Keep your eyes on the loch, too… Nessie sightings have been reported from the castle towers more than once (but not while we visited)! This is a super popular site, so be prepared for crowds. While we just drove up to it (with a pre-booked entry time), it can also be visited as part of a Loch Ness cruise.

Here are some options for visiting:

• If you only want a peek at it, book this 1-hour Loch Ness cruise to get views from the water.
• This longer Loch Ness cruise from Inverness (3.5 hours) includes a visit to the castle.
• Are you a fan of Outlander? Then you’ll love this all-day tour that includes a stop at Urquhart plus popular filming locations from the hit show.

Duffus Castle

This castle was never on our radar until we started looking for “decrepit stuff” for Katie. Duffus Castle (near Elgin) is one of the finest and most complete motte and bailey castles in all of Scotland.

The castle was built by a Flemish man named Freskin, who came to Scotland in the first half of the 1100s. In the 14th century, the wooden defences were replaced by an imposing stone keep rising to three storeys. The trouble was the foundations couldn’t handle the weight on the boggy ground, and you can now see where a large section of the keep has slid partway down the mound. 

Once one of the strongest castles in Scotland, it was reduced to a decaying ruin by the time it was abandoned in 1705. Entry is free, and the site is open year-round, making it a wonderfully atmospheric stop that rewards curious travellers and castle-climbers (like Katie – this was her favourite).

Castle Fraser

Rounding out our list of Scotland castles, Castle Fraser in Aberdeenshire is a masterpiece of Scottish tower house architecture and one of the grandest on the famous Castles of Mar trail.

One of the most elaborate Z-plan castles in Scotland, the five-storey structure was built between 1575 and 1636. While we couldn’t enter the interior when we visited (it was closed for a private event), it was still worth the stop to see the gorgeous grounds.

What we missed: The evocative interiors span the castle’s history, from the medieval stone-vaulted Great Hall to the Regency Dining Room. The castle still retains original Fraser family portraits, furniture, and collections, giving it a warm, lived-in feel rather than a museum. What we saw: A traditional, vibrant walled garden, and two marked nature trails through the surrounding parkland. dragonflies. Castle Fraser has been in the care of the National Trust for Scotland since 1976, and the grounds are open to visitors year-round. Some scenes from the 2006 film The Queen were also filmed here.

Pull it all together with an EPIC Scotland Castles tour!

We rented a car and did all of this ourselves, and you can too if you don’t mind some narrow, twisty roads and driving on the left-hand side. But if that will stress you out, then there are some excellent overnight tours that will help you take in most of these castles:

• This 4-day, small-group tour from Edinburgh might just be what you’re looking for. It includes Dunnottar, Castle Fraser, and many more that we missed!
• This 3-day tour from Edinburgh to the Highlands and Isle of Skye includes Urquhart, Dunvegan, and Eilean Donan. It also includes many of the hot spots we loved on the Isle of Skye.

Where to Stay on your Scotland Castles Road Trip

Edinburgh

Beautiful, quiet, and luxurious are how to describe the No11 Boutique Hotel and Brasserie in Edinburgh. And you can’t beat the location with everything nearby, including it being right next to the Royal Mile.