Next in our guide to the best Scottish castles, we visit one of the most elegant with a simply stunning location. Culzean Castle, located 12 miles (19km) south of Ayr on Scotland’s wild west coast, lays claim to one of the most spectacular in the country. Designed as the ultimate castle accommodation in Scotland, this fine building takes extravagance to a whole new level. 

As far as castles go, it’s difficult to imagine a more remote and dramatic location than Dunnottar. Perhaps with the most impenetrable position of all Scottish castles, this one sits on top of its own cliff peninsula on the road to Aberdeen, defended on all sides by the forces of nature. Dunnottar Castle also comes with a good dose of dastardly history with an intrepid mix of torching, smuggling and pillaging. 

When it comes to location, Urquhart Castle ticks the boxes for both strategic and scenic. Dominating a rocky promontory on the iconic Loch Ness, the castle takes in the whole of the Loch and the surrounding countryside. Situated just south of Inverness, it also makes a prime spot on the route to the Highlands.

As far as Scottish castles go, they don’t come more romantic than Eilean Donan Castle. Perched in a stunning location at the head of no less than three sea lochs, the Castle features as one of the most photographed spots in the country. Its iconic status ranks alongside bagpipes, tartan and the Loch Ness Monster as symbols of Scotland. 

In the first of our guides about great Scottish castles we visit perhaps the grandest of them all: Stirling Castle.

Equidistant between Glasgow and Edinburgh, Stirling Castle stands very tall and boasts one of the best vantage points in Britain. It also offers a unique insight into life at the Royal Scottish Court in the sixteenth century as well as the chance to feast your eyes on stunning architecture, art works and views.

Along with tartan, bagpipes and thistles, castles represent one of the most iconic symbols of Scotland. The Scottish landscape is dotted with castles at almost every turn. In fact there are more than 1,500 castles in Scotland with their architecture and styles reflecting the country’s history. Many lie in ruins while many others continue to be used as homes or as castle stays in Scotland.

Who doesn’t love a named connection, a celebrity tie-in, a famous face to associate with? Admittedly not everyone, but castles with royal connections are certainly high on the hit list for those looking to stay in a castle.