Castles of Scotland

Eilean Donan Castle overlooks the Isle of Skye, at the point where three great sea-lochs meet. Bishop Donan chose the tranquil spot back in 634AD to settle on and create a monastic cell. The first castle was later established in the 13th century by King Alexander II in an effort to help protect the area from Vikings who raided, settled and controlled much of the North of Scotland and the Western Isles between 800 and 1266. From the mid 13th century, this area was the quite seperate “Sea Kingdom” of the Lord of the Isles where the sea was the main highway and the power of feuding clan chiefs was counted by the number of men and galleys or “birlinns” at their disposal. Eilean Donan offered the perfect defensive position. War came to Eilean Donan during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1719. Britain had gone to war with Spain in 1718, and Spain saw a chance to destabilise Britain by inciting another Jacobite Rebellion. In April 1719 a small Spanish force under George Keith, Earl Marishcal landed first on the Isle of Lewis and then at Loch Alsh making Eilean Donan Castle their headquarters. With the support of numerous clans, including Clan Mackenzie and Clan MacGregor, the army proceeded inshore in an attempt to incite more Clans to rally to their cause. However, their absence was timely as on 10 May 1719 a Royal Navy detachment attacked the castle, launching a heavy bombardment that forced the garrison to surrender. Following this, Eilean Donan lay in silent ruin for the best part of two hundred years. The castle we see today was reconstructed as a family home between 1912 and 1932 by Lt Col John MacRae-Gilstrap, and opened to the public in 1955. Eilean Donan has also made several appearances in films including Highlander (1986), James Bond: The World Is Not Enough (1999), and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) to name a few. #scotland #castle #history #travel #fyp #castles #scottishhighlands #outlander #beautifuldestinations #explore #traveltiktok #braveheart #castlesofscotland #scottish #scottishtiktok #bucketlist #magical #historytime #historytok #visitscotland

Experience a unique stay in the Scottish Highlands 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Eagle Brae Log Cabins are nestled on a remote hillside in the Scottish Highlands. These beautifully handcrafted cabins combine luxury with breathtaking scenery and untamed wildness. Although hidden away, Eagle Brae is only 20 miles from the city of Inverness. There’s plenty to explore and a choice of walks and outdoor activities on the resort. But for those who choose to venture out and explore the surrounding area, there’s a wealth of attractions close by including historic sites and some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland! @Eagle Brae #Scotland #scottishhighlands #hiddengems #beautifuldestinations #staycation #logcabin #nature #traveltiktok #uniquestays #scottishtiktok #fyp #wildlife

Castles to visit in Aberdeenshire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 In order as they appear: 1. Castle Fraser 2. Dunnottar Castle 3. Findlater Castle 4. New Slains Castle 5. Balmoral Castle 6. Craigievar Castle 7. Tolquhon Castle 8. Fyvie Castle 9. Huntly Castle 10. Drum Castle 11. Corgarff Castle 12. Crathes Castle 13. Leith Hall 14. Kildrummy Castle 15. Glenbuchat Castle #scotland #castle #aberdeen #outlander #travel #history #braveheart #castlesofscotland #beautifuldestinations #scottishtiktok #fyp #aberdeenshire

Journey back in time in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The locations in order as they appear: 1. Eilean Donan Castle 2. Castle Fraser 3. Girnigoe Sinclair Castle 4. Dunnottar Castle 5. Kilchurn Castle 6. Elgin Cathedral 7. Old Man of Storr 8. St. Mary & St. Finnan Church 9. Old Keiss Castle 10. Strome Castle #scotland #castle #braveheart #history #outlander #scottishhighlands #beautifuldestinations #travel #williamwallace #freedom #scottishtiktok #bucketlist #roadtrip #historytime #fyp

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The locations in order as they appear: 1. Kilchurn Castle 2. Wallace Monument 3. Eilean Donan Castle 4. Girnigoe Sinclair Castle 5. Dunrobin Castle 6. Caerlaverock Castle 7. Duntrune Castle 8. Prince Albert’s Cairn 9. St. Conan’s Kirk 10. Midhope Castle 11. Dunnottar Castle 12. Castle Stalker 13. New Slains Castle 14. Carbisdale Castle 15. Dunalastair House 16. Bucholie Castle 17. Cambusnethan Prory 18. Castle Leod 19. Leith Hall 20. Kildrummy Castle #scotland #castle #travel #beautifuldestinations #explore #braveheart #williamwallace #outlander #scottishtiktok #bucketlist #scotlandtiktok #visitscotland #history #scottish #fyp #

Monzie Castle Mid-Lodge 🏰 Monzie Castle itself is a large castellated mansion, originally built by James Graeme after his mother, Margaret Scott, heiress of Monzie, deeded three-quarters of the lands to him in 1613. The estate was later sold to Colin Campbell of Lagvinshoch in 1666 and his descendant, General Alexander Campbell, MP, enlarged the house by adding a much larger castellated building on its east side in 1797–1800 that was designed by John Patterson. Monzie Castle left Campbell ownership in 1869 when it was sold to the Johnstones of Lathrisk. In 1908 a serious fire took hold of the castle with only the outside walls remaining. The leading Scottish architect of the day, Sir Robert Lorimer was instructed to restore the castle as we see it today. #scotland #castle #gothic #beautifuldestinations #hiddengems #scottishtiktok #braveheart #lodge #history #scotlandtiktok #fyp #scottish #visitscotland #explore

The National Wallace Monument 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The monument was designed by the Edinburgh-born Glasgow architect J. T. Rochead, and built between 1861 and 1869. The monument commemorates one of Scotland’s greatest national heroes, Sir William Wallace. He was leader of the Scottish resistance forces during the first of the long and ultimately successful struggle to free Scotland from English rule and gain its independence. This resistance stemmed from Wallace‘s burning desire for peace and freedom which united the country’s clans, gained the loyalty of its people, struck fear into his enemies and defied the cruel hand of the invading King Edward I of England. Famously when the two countries faced each other at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, Scotland was led to victory by William Wallace. Today, the Wallace Monument, standing at 67 metres tall with 246 steps, remains one of Scotland’s most celebrated landmarks and is located in the city of Stirling. #scotland #braveheart #williamwallace #hero #history #freedom #travel #scottishtiktok #beautifuldestinations #bucketlist #outlander #scotlandtiktok #explore #fyp #historytok #inspirational

Step back in time in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The locations in order as they appear: 1. Gearrannan Blackhouse Village 2. Eilean Donan Castle 3. Kilchurn Castle 4. Castle Stalker 5. Girnigoe Sinclair Castle 6. Dunnottar Castle 7. Dunrobin Castle 8. Urquhart Castle 9. New Slains Castle 10. Dirleton Castle #scotland #castle #history #travel #beautifuldestinations #scottishtiktok #scottishhighlands #fyp #bucketlist #braveheart #outlander #roadtrip #inspiration #scotlandtiktok #harrypotter #fy

St Bride’s Church was built in the 1300s as a mausoleum for the Black Douglas family. ‘The Good Sir’ James of Douglas was close friends with Robert the Bruce, and is said to have slaughtered English troops inside the church in 1307. Thanks to James’s alignment with Bruce, the Black Douglases rose to become one of Scotland’s most powerful noble families of the day. When Sir James died in 1330, his son Archibald ‘The Grim’, 3rd earl of Douglas, modified the church to accommodate his tomb. Sir James’ tomb is the first of three elaborate canopied tombs to be found in the church. Its effigy depicts a knight drawing a sword, with his head on a pillow and his feet resting on an animal. The second tomb belongs to Archibald, 5th earl and 2nd Duke of Touraine, who died in 1439. He’s depicted wearing robes of state and a ducal coronet on his head, and his feet rest on a lion. The tomb chest below has carved figures, probably representing his family. The third tomb is that of James ‘the Gross’, 7th Earl, who died in 1443, and his wife Beatrice Sinclair, who died at some point before 1463. This is a rare double effigy, with the earl in armour and his wife in a flowing robe. Both have their hands clasped in prayer. James II overthrew the Black Douglases in 1455, and St Bride’s soon fell into neglect. A clock tower, containing a clock dated 1565, was added to the nave’s south aisle. The clock is said to have been presented by Mary Queen of Scots. It’s probably the oldest working clock in Scotland. Worship in the chancel continued until 1781, when a new church was built on a different site. Charles, 12th earl of Home, re-roofed and re-glazed the chancel in 1881, to provide a suitable shrine for his mother, Lady Lucy Montagu Douglas. Her tomb now takes centre stage in the chancel. #scotland #church #architecture #beautifuldestinations #history #robertthebruce #bucketlist #hiddengems #travel #braveheart #outlander #hidden #scottishtiktok #scotlandtiktok #churchtiktok #fyp

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The locations in order as they appear: 1. William Wallace Monument, Melrose 2. Eilean Donan Castle 3. Castle Fraser 4. Girnigoe Sinclair Castle 5. Duntrune Castle 6. National Wallace Monument 7. Kilchurn Castle 8. Findlater Castle 9. St. Mary’s & St. Finnan Church 10. Glencoe 11. Balmoral Castle 12. Stirling Castle 13. Craigievar Castle 14. Urquhart Castle 15. Bucholie Castle 16. Crawford Priory #scotland #travel #bucketlist #castle #braveheart #williamwallace #outlander #history #beautifuldestinations #scottishtiktok #visitscotland #magical #explore #inspiration #travelguide #fyp

Kilchurn Castle is located on Loch Awe and set against the backdrop of the mountains of Tyndrum. Kilchurn Castle was built around 1450 by Sir Colin Campbell, first Lord of Glenorchy. The land on which the castle stands had been granted to Colin in 1432 to ensure his loyalty following the sudden death of his elder brother, Gillespic. Colin’s descendants, the Campbells of Glenorchy (later earls of Breadalbane), were the most powerful of the numerous cadets of Clan Campbell. Indeed, there were times when this branch almost rivalled the clan chiefs, the earls of Argyll, for supremacy. Kilchurn Castle originally consisted of the courtyard and five-storey tower house, containing a hall, private chambers, a cellar and prison. Colin’s son Duncan, the 2nd Lord, added the laich hall in the courtyard before his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Colin, the 6th Lord, added the four angle-turrets on the top of the tower house. Similar to many other castles, Kilchurn was subject to the changing political climate of early modern British politics. In 1689 Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy, 1st Earl of Breadalbane, retired to his ancestral seat and set about converting it into a garrison stronghold. The tower house was converted into accommodation for officers, while a barracks housing 200 men was built on the north side of the courtyard. The barracks block remains relatively complete, and is today the oldest surviving barracks on the British mainland During the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745 the castle acted as a government garrison. The Glenorchy-Campbell family continued to own the castle until around 1760. It was abandoned after being permanently damaged by a devastating lightning strike. It then remained largely undisturbed, as it fell apart due to decades of neglect. Today, Kilchurn is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. Although it stands open to the elements, several wooden staircases and walkways built into its fabric allow visitors to climb the original five-story tower and other parapets. #scotland #castle #braveheart #gameofthrones #traveltiktok #history #bucketlist #landscape #outlander #visitscotland #scottishtiktok #beautifuldestinations #exploremore #adventure #fyp

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The locations in order as they appear: 1. St. Andrew’s Cathedral 2. Girnigoe Sinclair Castle 3. St. Conan’s Kirk 4. Dunrobin Castle 5. National Wallace Monument 6. Dunnottar Castle 7. Falkland 8. Kilchurn Castle 9. Old Man of Storr 10. Midhope Castle 11. Castle Stalker 12. Old Keiss Castle 13. Dalquharran Castle 14. Stirling Castle 15. Blair Castle 16. Urquhart Castle #scotland #castle #travel #bucketlist #outlander #history #harrypotter #visitscotland #explore #beautifuldestinations #fyp #gameofthrones #scottishtiktok

Scotland in Winter 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The locations in order as they appear: 1. Inverness 2. Carbisdale Castle 3. Inverness 4. Castle Fraser 5. Castle Leod 6. Inverness Cathedral 7. Glencoe 8. Eilean Donan Castle 9. Glencoe 10. Inverness 11. Blackrock Cottage, Glencoe 12. Old High Church, Inverness 13. Lagangarbh Hut, Glencoe 14. Leith Hall 15. Leannach Cottage 16. Glen Shiel 17. Inverness 18. Duncansby Stacks 19. Cairngorm Reindeer Herd 20. Ardross Castle #scotland #winter #snow #castle #beautifuldestinations #magical #outlander #travel #bucketlist #scottishtiktok #fyp #scottishhighlands #braveheart #harrypotter

Dalquharran Castle is a historic mansion located in South Ayrshire. It was commissioned by Thomas Kennedy in 1785 as a new ancestral seat for his descendants, after Old Dalquharran Castle (ruins of which stand on the same land approximately 300m away) became uninhabitable. The castle was designed by Robert Adam, the renowned Scottish architect responsible for the building of nearby Culzean Castle. Dalquharran features classical elements such as columns, pediments, and intricate detailing. The building is considered a fine example of the Georgian era's grand country houses. Over the years, Dalquharran Castle has undergone various changes in ownership and use. It served as a residence for the Kennedy family for several generations until the 1930s before being sold. It was later used as a youth hostel and as a school for the deaf. Eventually, Dalquharran became too costly for subsequent owners to maintain and was abandoned, with the roof strategically removed in the late 1960s as a means of avoiding paying tax #scotland #abandoned #castle #history #abandonedplaces #explore #beautifuldestinations #travel #scottishtiktok #haunted #hiddengems #outlander #castlesofscotland #castles #fyp