A visitor's A-Z guide to Scotland.
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Castles,
Tower houses and Palaces in Scotland A visitor's A-Z guide to Scotland. |
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 Castles in Scotland
Aberdour Castle
A921, Aberdour, Fife, Scotland, KY3 0SL Aberdour Castle is a complex of historic buildings ranging from the 13th to the 17th century. At the core of the castle is a late 12th century fortified hall house, erected around 1200, which makes Aberdour one of the two oldest castles in Scotland (the other candidate being Castle Sween, erected around the same time). MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location: On the A921, 5 miles east of the Forth Bridges. A short walk from the railway station. Signposted. Website: Aberdour Castle Phone: 01383 860519 Historic Scotland Location map OS Grid NT192854 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Heritage Rating:  ?
Abergeldie Castle
Abergeldie, Grampian, Scotland An historic tower house beside the River Dee, Abergeldie Castle probably dates to the mid 16th century. The most likely builder was Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar, later Earl of Huntly. The castle was used briefly as a garrison for royal troops during the first Jacobite uprising in 1715, and later it was leased to succesive generations of the royal family, beginning with Prince Albert in 1848. MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location map OS Grid NO286952 Photo Credit: Peter Gordon, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence Heritage Rating:  ?
Auchindoun Castle
Dufftown, Grampian, Scotland Auchindoun Castle is a 15th century stone fortress built within the encircling earthworks of an Iron Age hillfort beside the River Fiddich. The castle was erected by John, Earl of Mar, but the earl did not have long to enjoy his new castle before he was murderd by his own brother, James III of Scotland. MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location: 2 miles South of Dufftown on the A941. Access on foot only, signposted from the A941. Website: Auchindoun Castle Historic Scotland Location map OS Grid NJ349374 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Heritage Rating: ?
Balvaird Castle
Newton of Balcanquhal, Tayside, Scotland A late 15th century L-plan tower house, surrounded by a later 16th century wall with a courtyard and gatehouse. The castle stands on a small rise of land, and consists of a strong central keep with a main block and projecting wing, with a stair tower in the angle of the two sections. MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location: 6 miles south east of Bridge of Earn, off the A912. There is a visitor's car park at the base of the castle hill. Website: Balvaird Castle Phone: 01786 431324 Historic Scotland Location map OS Grid NO169115 Photo Credit: Brian D Osborne, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence Heritage Rating: ?
Balvenie Castle
Dufftown, Grampian, Scotland, AB55 4DH Balvenie Castle stands on a small, wooded hill on the northern outskirts of Dufftown. The castle is rather overshadowed by its more famous and much more modern neighbour, the Glenfiddich distillery, one of Scotland's most well-known whiskey brands. Yet though visitors flock to visit the distillery, many ignore the presence of this historic castle stronghold, fringed by trees. And that's a shame, for Balvenie is an impressive historic monument, home to three of Scotland's most … MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location: On the B9014, off the A941 at the northern edge of Dufftown, immediately beside the Glenfiddich Distillery Website: Balvenie Castle Phone: 01340 820 121 Historic Scotland Location map OS Grid NJ326 408 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Heritage Rating: ?
Beldorney Castle
Dumeath, Grampian, Scotland Beldorney Castle is a restored 16th or early 17th century tower house beside the River Deveron, in the north west corner of Aberdeenshire. The Z-shaped house was built by the Ogilvey family, and was later owned by a succession of families, among them the Gordons, Lyons, Buchan, and Grant families. MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location: On a minor road about 7 miles west of Huntly Location map OS Grid NJ422369 Photo Credit: Anne Burgess, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence Heritage Rating: ?
Blackness Castle
Blackness, Linlithgow, Lothian, Scotland, EH49 7NH One of Scotland's most important military strongholds, Blackness Castle was built in 1440's, strengthened in 16th century as an artillery fortress, and finally used as a Royal castle and an ammunition depot in the 1870's. The castle stands on a rocky promontory on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. At one time Blackness acted as the port for nearby Linlithgow, and the castle served as one of four fortresses set up by the … MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location: Off the A904, on the B903 at Blackness, 4 miles north of Linlithgow, on a promontory in the Forth estuary Website: Blackness Castle Phone: 01506 834 807 Historic Scotland Location map OS Grid NT055 083 Photo Credit: kim traynor, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence Heritage Rating: ?
Borve Castle
B892, Borve, Benbecula, Highlands and Islands, Scotland This late 14th century stronghold stands behind a modern house just off the B892 at the south west corner of Benbecula, about 4 miles south of Balivanich. Borve was the home of Ranald of Benbecula and was known locally as Caisteal Raghall (Ranald's castle). MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location: Behind a pair of houses on the north side of the B892 at Borve, south west Benbecula. Easily visible from the road, but otherwise the only access is through the farm field. Location map OS Grid NF773505 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Heritage Rating: ?
Bothwell Castle
Bothwell, Uddingston, Strathclyde, Scotland, G71 8BL Largest and finest 13th century stone castle in Scotland; part of the original circular deep survives; much of castle dates from 14th and 15th centuries. MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location: at Bothwell, but approached from Uddingston, off M74/A725 near Glasgow Website: Bothwell Castle Phone: 01698 816 894 Historic Scotland Location map OS Grid NS688 593 Photo Credit: G Laird, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence Heritage Rating: ?
Broughty Castle
Castle Approach, Broughty Ferry, Tayside, Scotland, DD5 2TF Broughty Castle stands on the north bank of the river Tay, just east of modern Dundee. The castle was built in 1495 on a site that was first fortified about 40 years before. The castle builder was Andrew, 2nd Lord Grey. At the core of the castle is an imposing four storey tower house which was augmented by low outbuildings within encircling curtain walls. MORE >> Attraction Type: Castle Location: Of the 930 Website: Broughty Castle Historic Scotland Location map OS Grid NO465305 Photo Credit: Bob Embleton, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence Heritage Rating: ?
Text © David Ross and Britain Express |
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HISTORY CORNERName the Historic attractionBritish Heritage AwardsCelebrate the best of British Heritage in our annual British History QuizThis monastery on the banks of the River Tyne was the home of scholar and author The Venerable Bede This Day in British History11 February, 1503 Death of Elizabeth of York, Henry VII's queen Elizabeth, mother of Henry VIII, died in childbirth Monarch Mayhem
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