Castles, Houses & More
A Scotman’s home is his castle, quite literally in some cases, where stately homes in Scotland are often referred to as castles. We hope you’ll like some of our suggestions of castles and houses, and more, which we’ve shown below. A number of these places can be used as venues for events such as weddings, but you will always be welcome as a visitor to their house & gardens at certain times of the year.
There are, of course, buildings that represent perhaps the more traditional idea of a castle, in various states of disrepair and loaded with history.
Other places worth a mention are Fortrose Cathedral, Inverness Botanic Gardens, locks at Fort Augustus and prehistoric cup stones at Swordale. Some things military are Ruthven Barracks, Culloden Battlefield, Spean Bridge Commando Memorial and Fort George.
Please note that some places have seasonal opening dates and times. You can check their websites for details by clicking on “more information”.
Castles
On the banks of Loch Ness near Drumnadrochit.
In the village of Dornie near the Kyle of Lochalsh.
This castle is on the outskirts of Fort William.
House & Gardens
Near Ballater. Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852.
Near Nairn. Built and inhabited by the Cawdor family for over 600 years.
Near Forres. Family seat of the Brodie clan since the 12th century.
Near Golspie. Home to the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland since the 13th century.
Other Places
UK’s most northerly Botanic Gardens. Plants are on show in the gardens and glasshouses.
At the bottom end of Loch Ness. Has a flight of 5 locks.
A circle of 28 carved rocks dating back 5000 years. Walking distance from the house.
Things Military
Spean Bridge. Ben Nevis in the background. After Dunkirk, from 1942, this is where they trained.
Ardersier. Fort George, is the mightiest artillery fortification in Britain, if not Europe.
Near Kingussie. Built in the early 1700s after the failed Jacobite uprising of 1715.
Near Inverness. Powerfully emotive and atmospheric battlefield where the 1745 Jacobite Rising came to a tragic end.
Photo Sources
Main picture – Glenfinnan Monument – Pixabay
Urquhart Castle – Getty images
Eilean Donan Castle – Eilean Donan website
Old Inverlochy Castle – Old Inverlochy website
Balmoral Castle – Balmoral Castle website
Cawdor Castle – Getty images
Brodie Castle – Brodie Castle website
Dunrobin Castle – Getty images
Inverness Botanic Gardens – discoverscottishgardens.org
Fortrose Cathedral – Black-Isle.info
Fort Augustus Locks – Caleycruisers.com
Swordale Cup Stones – ancientpages.com
Commando Memorial – Kelso Camera Club
Fort George – Trip Advisor
Ruthven Barracks – historicenvironment.scot
Culloden Battfield – meisterdrucke.com