Lonely PlanetAug 24, 2026
The 8 Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
From Edinburgh to Eilean Donan, the best castles in Scotland for fascinating history, beautiful architecture, rugged settings, royal heritage and gory stories.
14 things in this story
- Cawdor CastleSightFeatures fairy-tale rooms, gardens, and a medieval tower.
- Big WoodTrailNature trails lead from Cawdor Castle gardens.
- Elsewhere
- Balmoral CastleAttractionBallater, United KingdomRoyal-owned castle with public ballroom and gardens.
- Dunrobin CastleTrain stationGolspie, United KingdomConical spires overlook formal gardens and Moray Firth.
- Edinburgh CastleSightEdinburgh, United KingdomFires the One O'Clock Gun tradition dating to 1861.
- Princes Street GardensSightEdinburgh, United KingdomSeparates Edinburgh's Old and New Towns.
- Stirling CastleAttractionStirling, United KingdomWitnessed about 20 sieges and battles.
- Eilean DonanSightKyle of Lochalsh, United KingdomReconstructed medieval towers on a rocky islet.
- Dunnotar CastleSightStonehaven, United KingdomMedieval fortification on North Sea coast cliffs.
- Aberdeenshire Coastal PathTrailStonehaven, United KingdomPath from Stonehaven to Dunnotar Castle.
- Glamis CastleAttractionGlamis, United KingdomSetting for much of Shakespeare's Macbeth.
- Blair CastleAttractionBlair Atholl, United KingdomWhitewashed Scots Baronial masterpiece in Cairngorms foothills.
- Braemar CastleAttractionBraemar, United Kingdom17th-century castle in the Cairngorms.
- Inveraray CastleAttractionInveraray, United KingdomAncestral seat with tubular towers and witch-hat spires.