Strathclyde - Castles
Castles to visit in Ayrshire, Arran, Argyll, Bute, and the greater Glasgow region.
Rowallan Castle is a magnificent Renaissance mansion, home to the Muir family, based around a late 13th-century two-storey tower house. The tower house was constructed in 1263 as a rectangular keep, measuring some 35 feet x 28 feet, with a courtyard wall abutting the west side of the tower. Rowallan's chief claim to fame is that the earliest known lute music in Scotland was composed here.
Kilmaurs, Strathclyde, Scotland, KA3 6JJ
Heritage Rating: 
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Nearest: Hotels - Self Catering - Bed and Breakfasts
Seagate Castle is a 16th-century fortified mansion in Irvine, incorporating an earlier medieval fortress. This may be the site where the Treaty of Irvine was signed in 1297. The castle we see today was built by the 3rd Earl of Eglinton. It is now ruinous and in the care of the North Ayrshire Council.
Seagate, Irvine, Strathclyde, Scotland
Heritage Rating: ?
Heritage Highlight: Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here in 1563
Nearest: Hotels - Self Catering - Bed and Breakfasts
Skipness is an early 13th-century castle standing on the north east coast of the Kintyre peninsula, looking across Kilbrannan Sound to the Isle of Arran. The castle was built by the leader of the MacSween clan, at a time when this area of Argyll was under Norwegian rule, making it one of the very first true castles to be built in Scotland. The most likely builder was Suibhne (Sven) ‘the Red’, the founder of Clan MacSween, or his son Dugald.
B8001, Skipness, Kintyre, Strathclyde, Scotland
Heritage Rating: ?
Nearest: Hotels - Self Catering - Bed and Breakfasts
There was a castle overlooking Tarbert harbour as early as the 8th century. In the 13th century, Alexander II or III built a stone castle here, which was later rebuilt by Robert Bruce. In 1494 James IV rebuilt Tarbert Castle once more as part of his campaign against the Lords of the Isles. The best-preserved feature is James' 1494 Tower House.
Tarbert, Strathclyde, Scotland
Heritage Rating: ?
Heritage Highlight: Late 15th century Tower House, built by James IV
Nearest: Hotels - Self Catering - Bed and Breakfasts
