The Most Beautiful Castles in Scotland

Edinburgh’s, if not Scotland’s, most visited attraction, Edinburgh Castle is perched on top of Castle Rock, looming over the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare of the Old Town. The location of the National War Museum, a chapel, the famous one o’clock gun, as well as the Scottish crown jewels and the Scottish Stone of Destiny, Edinburgh Castle is a historical site not to be missed by any visitor to Edinburgh. Recent research has revealed Edinburgh Castle as having been one of the most besieged places in the world, and with the birds-eye view of the city from atop its walls, it’s not hard to see why.
Castelhill, Edinburgh, UK, +44 131 225 9846

On the northwest shore of the Isle of Skye lies what is believed to be the longest continuously inhabited castle by one family in Scotland. Still owned and operated by the MacLeod Clan through its 30th chief Hugh MacLeod, as it has been for the last 800 years, Dunvegan Castle is a historic, as well as a beautiful, destination. With 42,000 acres of grounds, this castle is open to the public from April through October every year. Perched on the shores of Loch MacLeod, the castle is an imposing structure on the landscape; inside, the building has a fine display of relics, medals and antique furniture. Alternative, you can take a boat trip on the loch and spot the grey seals that live there, or walk through the impressive gardens.
Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye, UK, +44 1470 521206

Cawdor Castle is perhaps the most famous because of its connection to the William Shakespeare tragedy, Macbeth. However, Shakespeare’s account of Macbeth’s crowning as the Thane of Cawdor was pure fiction; the castle was actually built hundreds of years after the play was set. The current home of the Dowager Duchess of Cawdor, the castle is now open to the public during parts of the year. Visitors can see impressive, lived-in interiors and have access to historical rooms such as the old kitchen, a bedroom, dining and drawing room. Cawdor Castle was curiously built around a holly tree by the Thane of Cawdor in the 15th century, and today boasts a large collection of furniture, portraits, three gardens, and a golf course.
Cowdor Castle, Nairn, UK, +44 1667 404401

A must-see on any tour through the highlands, Eilean Donan is widely mentioned as one of the most photographed monuments in all of Scotland (and also has more celluloid appearances than any other castle). Idyllically situated where the three lochs Duich, Long and Alsh meet, the tidal island upon which this structure rests is connected to the mainland by a single bridge. The castle is believed to take its name after the Celtic martyr Donnán of Eigg, who died in 617 and the building was constructed in the 13th century. The castle was a stronghold for Clans MacKenzie and MacRae, until it was partially destroyed in the Jacobite rising. Eilean Donan was rebuilt in the 20th century and opened to the public in 1932.
Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, UK, +44 1599 555202