Top 10 Castles in Scottish Highlands, Scotland

This picturesque castle, built in 1220, holds the title of the most photographed castle in Scotland.

Standing amongst some of the most dramatic scenery of the Scottish Highlands are the remains of a brooding castle, thought to have been built in 1590 by the Macleods who had owned Assynt since the 13th century.

Dunrobin Castle is the historic home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland. The earliest part of the building dates from around 1275 and has a number of later extensions. Your tour begins at the main staircase, which leads to the state rooms on the first floor. These include the Dining Room, set with the family silver, and our Library which has over 10,000 books. You then make your way to the smaller rooms in the older parts of the castle. The Tearoom and Gift Shop can be found on the ground floor. Access to the Gardens is from the Entrance Hall. Our Victorian Museum and Falconry displays can be found in the garden. Falconry displays 11.30am and 2pm daily during the months of April, May, June, July, August and September.

Discover 1,000 years of drama, experience a glimpse of medieval life and enjoy stunning views over Loch Ness from the ruins of the greatest castle in the Highlands. Climb the Grant Tower that watches over the iconic loch, peer into a miserable prison cell, said to have held the legendary Gaelic bard Domhnall Donn, and imagine the splendid banquets staged in the great hall. A more comfortable view of the iconic ruins, against a backdrop of Loch Ness and the hills of the Great Glen, can be enjoyed from the café. Urquhart’s stories are also told through a remarkable collection of artefacts left by its residents, historic replicas, including a full-sized, working trebuchet siege engine, and a short film. The castle has a distinctly Highland heritage and the site has witnessed some of the most dramatic chapters in our nation’s history. This is where St Columba is said to have worked miracles in the 6th century, where acts of chivalry and defiance provided inspiration during the Wars of Independence and where the MacDonald Lords of the Isles struggled with the Crown for power.

A romantic fairy-tale castle that has been the home of the Thanes of Cawdor since 1370, Cawdor has evolved into a charming family mansion and the most outstanding of stately homes. The dramatic medieval tower, dungeon, turrets, battlements and drawbridge, belie an enchanting interior of fine art, tapestries and furniture which create the warm and welcoming feel of a home rather than a museum. The castle, set in stunning grounds with three beautiful and varied gardens, is surrounded by the magnificent Cawdor Big Wood, one of the finest woodland areas in Europe, threaded with colour coded nature trails to explore. Visitors are invited to enjoy a delicious lunch or tea with home-baking from our mouth-watering menu in the courtyard café, then browse the exciting range of gifts and goodies in our three shops and, time permitting, have fun on the putting green and short 9-hole golf course which provides enjoyment for all abilities.

Opening times for 2021 are to be confirmed. We are open daily from 1st May to 30th September however we will be closed from late July to the beginning of August. These dates are subject to change so please keep up to date on our website for the most recent information.

Castle Leod is the seat of the Clan Mackenzie which has been lived in by the same family for over 500 years. The grounds are listed in the 'Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Scotland', the national listing of significant gardens. A warm welcome awaits all who visit!