Castles in Scotland

Iconic Castles of Scotland

Scotland’s architectural heritage spans from the 12th-century majesty of Edinburgh Castle, home to the Honours of Scotland, to the 16th-century Renaissance detail of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This collection includes ancient stone strongholds like Dunstaffnage, island ruins on Loch Leven, and clan seats such as Drum Castle. The list stretches from the strategic border defenses of Norham Castle on the River Tweed to the northernmost reaches of the Shetland Islands’ Fort Charlotte and the Earl's Palace in Orkney, highlighting diverse defensive styles and royal residences.

Iconic Castles of Scotland — Map

Mactographer / Attribution

A

Edinburgh Castle

Historic fortress and national monument with a history dating back to the 9th century, featuring royal artifacts and panoramic views of the city.

Ludi Ling / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Historic royal palace featuring Renaissance architecture, state apartments, gardens, and abbey ruins. It serves as the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.

Remi Mathis / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Kilchurn Castle

Kilchurn Castle () is a ruined structure on a rocky peninsula at the northeastern end of Loch Awe, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

Astrid Horn / CC BY-SA 2.0

D

Invergarry Castle

Invergarry Castle in the Scottish Highlands was the seat of the Chiefs of the Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, a powerful branch of the Clan…

HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014 / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Dunstaffnage Castle

Constructed before 1240, it is considered to be one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland.

Jonathan Oldenbuck / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Loch Leven Castle

Lochleven Castle is a ruined castle on an island in Loch Leven, in the Perth and Kinross local authority area of Scotland.

Timo Newton-Syms / CC BY-SA 2.0

G

Floors Castle

Floors Castle, in Roxburghshire, south-east Scotland, is the seat of the Duke of Roxburghe.

Ikiwaner / CC-BY-SA-3.0

H

Drum Castle

Drum Castle is a castle near Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. For centuries it was the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine.

PaulT (Gunther Tschuch) / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Castle of Mey

The Castle of Mey is located in Caithness, on the north coast of Scotland, about 6 miles west of John o' Groats.

Ikiwaner / CC-BY-SA-3.0

J

Crathes Castle

Crathes Castle is a castle, built in the 16th century, near Banchory in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Wojsyl / CC-BY-SA-3.0

K

Strome Castle

Strome Castle is a ruined castle on the shore of Loch Carron in Stromemore, 3.5 miles south-west of the village of Lochcarron, on the…

Calum McRoberts / CC BY-SA 2.0

L

Norham Castle

Norham Castle is a castle in Northumberland, England, overlooking the River Tweed, on the border between England and Scotland.

Chmee2 / CC BY-SA 3.0

M

Earl's Palace

The Earl's Palace in Birsay, Orkney, Scotland, is a ruined 16th-century castle.

N

Borve Castle

Borve Castle, also known as Castle Wearie, and Caisteal Bhuirgh in Scottish Gaelic, is a ruined 14th-century tower house, located at the…

O

Fort Charlotte

Fort Charlotte in the centre of Lerwick, Shetland, is an artillery fort, roughly five sided, with bastions on each of three landward…

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