Besides distilleries, there is something else in Scotland in large quantities: castles in all degrees of condition.
Of course we’ve visited at a lot of them, which is especially cheap if you buy a 14-day voucher from the National Trust for Scotland. Here it comes, the extremely incomplete list of castles and fortresses in Scotland:
Dunnottar Castle:
This is a castle ruin by the sea, high on a rock. It seems to be a real visitor magnet, as there were a lot of people here. Still, it’s very nice there. The ruin is great, the view is bombastic.
Fyvie Castle:
It’s amazing, how long after passing through the gate you drive until you are at least at the parking lot. The castle you can visit on your own. But in every room you will also find someone to answer your questions. The castle is no longer inhabited. But you can get married here.
Haddo House:
This, too, is really far away from the entrance gate. Haddo House can be only visited during a guided tour. Luckily for us a guided tour was just starting. Such a tour is also great, you’ll learn a lot more. One of our highlights was that one of the participants tried out the organ in the family chapel. That sounded really great.
Castle Fraser:
We continued to use our National Trust Discovery Card. We explored this castle on our own. It is quite large and has a roof terrace.
Craigievar Castle:
This castle can only be visited with a guide. It is uninhabited and without electric lighting, which makes everything a little dark when the weather is cloudy. Nevertheless, the tour was interesting.
Urquhart Castle:
The castle ruin is located directly above Loch Ness. The view is really great. The castle ruin is also ok, but totally overcrowded.
Brodick Castle:
The castle itself was closed, but the park is also very beautiful and there is an adventure playground.
Inverararay Castle:
Again a very interesting building with extraordinary interiors. One of the former owners must have been a gun lover. If the weather is nice, the garden is also worthwhile.
Carnassarie Castle:
The castle is a ruin, but quite well preserved and you can even climb up.
A hidden gem, free and no people.
Dunadd Fort:
Not really a castle or a fortress, not even a real ruin. But another historical site, another surprise. We never expected to have such a view over the valley.