The team's tips:
- Don’t try to visit them all: Choose 2 or 3 castles along your route instead of trying to tick everything off. You’ll get more out of each visit.
- Book online whenever possible: For the busiest sites (Edinburgh Castle, Urquhart), this often saves you a good part of the queue.
- Visit the ruins in the morning light: Open-air castles such as Dunnottar and Eilean Donan are more photogenic early in the day, before the tour groups arrive.
- Wear sturdy shoes: Some sites, such as Dunnottar, are reached via a steep path from the car park.
- Leave some time for the gardens: Some castles, including Cawdor and Glamis, are almost as worth visiting for their grounds as for their stonework.
The Most Beautiful Castles in Scotland You Absolutely Have to Visit
Scotland is home to more than 2,000 castles and fortresses, from still-inhabited royal palaces to ruins perched on wind-battered cliffs. You obviously can’t visit them all, but some are so iconic that they deserve a place on your itinerary.
Here’s our pick of Scotland’s most impressive castles, from grand royal fortresses and romantic ruins to legendary haunted sites, to help you plan your road trip with Scotland Nomads.
Edinburgh Castle
Perched on its volcanic crag in the heart of the capital, Edinburgh Castle has towered over the city for more than a thousand years. It is Scotland’s most visited castle, and for good reason: it is home to the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish Crown Jewels), the Stone of Destiny used in royal coronations, and 360° views over Edinburgh from the ramparts.
It is the perfect place to start, and finish, exploring Scotland’s history before setting off for the Highlands.
Eilean Donan Castle
Probably the most photographed castle in Scotland. Set on its own island where three lochs meet, Duich, Long and Alsh, Eilean Donan has featured in several films, including Highlander and James Bond.
The castle you see today is actually a reconstruction from the early 20th century. The original was destroyed in 1719 and lay in ruins for more than 200 years before being restored. It stands on the route between the mainland and the Isle of Skye, a stop we include in our 7-day itinerary.
Stirling Castle
Often overshadowed by its Edinburgh cousin, Stirling Castle is every bit as impressive. Also perched on a rocky outcrop, it was the favorite residence of Scottish kings and queens for centuries, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who was crowned here when she was just a few months old.
Its strategic position at the crossroads between the Lowlands and the Highlands made it the setting for numerous battles, including the nearby Battle of Bannockburn. The restored royal apartments offer a vivid glimpse into court life in the 16th century.
Dunnottar Castle
On the northeast coast, near Stonehaven, the ruins of Dunnottar Castle cling to a rocky headland battered by the North Sea, around 50 metres above the waves. Many consider it Scotland’s most spectacular castle, ruins or not.
The site has been occupied for more than 1,500 years. This is where the Scottish Crown Jewels were hidden during Cromwell’s army’s siege in 1651–1652. It was also here that dozens of Covenanters were imprisoned in terrible conditions in 1685, in what is still known as the Whigs’ Vault.
You can reach it via a coastal path from Stonehaven. The walk takes around 20 minutes and offers fantastic views of the cliffs all the way.
Glamis Castle
In the fertile Angus valley, Glamis Castle was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and her daughter, Princess Margaret, was born there in 1930. With its turrets and slender towers, it is the very archetype of a Scottish fairy-tale castle.
Glamis is also famous for its legends: a Grey Lady is said to haunt the chapel, while a secret chamber supposedly conceals a family mystery that has never been solved. Shakespeare even set part of Macbeth in the castle, although the play takes considerable liberties with real history.
Cawdor Castle
About twenty minutes from Inverness, Cawdor Castle owes its fame to an entertaining historical twist: Shakespeare set part of Macbeth here, even though he never actually set foot in Scotland. Here’s the amusing detail: the current castle, built around a 15th-century tower, dates from several centuries after the real events that inspired the play.
Literary legend aside, Cawdor is mainly worth visiting for its gardens: a 17th-century walled garden, an 18th-century flower garden and a wild garden added in the 1960s, all carefully maintained by the family who still live on the estate.
Practical tips for visiting Scotland’s castles
Tickets
Most major sites are managed by Historic Environment Scotland or the National Trust for Scotland. If you’re planning to visit several sites, a pass such as the Explorer Pass (Historic Environment Scotland) can quickly pay for itself.
Opening hours
Opening hours vary considerably depending on the season, and some castles close completely in winter or reduce their opening days. Always check before setting off, especially outside the summer season.
Open-air ruins
Sites such as Dunnottar are exposed to wind and rain all year round, so always bring a good waterproof jacket, even when the forecast looks fine.
Parking
Car parks at the most popular sites (Edinburgh Castle, Urquhart and Eilean Donan) fill up quickly in summer. Arriving early in the morning is still your best bet.
Scottish castles with Scotland Nomads
From Edinburgh Castle at the start to Eilean Donan on the way to Skye and Dunvegan Castle on the island itself, our 7-day road trip already takes you past several of these must-see landmarks. With Scotland Nomads, you travel at your own pace, with the freedom to stop for as long as you like at every castle along the way.
