Best Castles in the Scottish Highlands

One of the grandest castles in Scotland, Inveraray Castle is still home to a noble family. The historic seat of Clan Campbell, it’s the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll today. Located on the shore of Loch Fyne in the Western Highlands, the 18th-century turreted castle is celebrated for its Gothic Revival architecture and its formal gardens.

On a self-led tour, you can explore its lavish interiors, marvel at its collection of artworks, and then swing by the tearoom for scones and refreshments. Many guided day trips to Inveraray Castle depart from Glasgow and Edinburgh, and drop by area highlights from Glencoe to Loch Lomond. Now that’s the makings of a perfect day of Scottish Highlands sightseeing.

Speaking of regal residences, it's hard to get fancier than Balmoral Castle, which is described as “the Highland home of the Royal Family,” and has been used as a royal retreat since 1852. Queen Elizabeth II was particularly fond of Balmoral, and even celebrated her engagement and honeymoon there. Today, the castle is still in the family, and while it isn’t accessible to visitors when the royals are in town, you can explore on a tour of the interior, or stroll the grounds, during its summer opening period.

Insider tip: After touring this must-visit Scottish castle, it’s worth exploring the surrounding Cairngorms National Park. The largest national park in the UK offers mountains, forests, lochs, and more.

Located in the Inner Hebrides, the wild and rugged Isle of Skye is known for its coastal beauty, charming fishing villages, and many hiking opportunities. It’s also celebrated for Eilean Donan Castle—one of the most beautiful castles in Scotland, and also one of the country’s most-photographed locations.

Located at the meeting point of three sea lochs, it’s situated on the water itself, accessible via a lengthy bridge. While Eilean Donan was built in the medieval period and destroyed during the Jacobite rebellions in the 18th century, it was reconstructed in the 20th century. Now it remains one of the region’s main sightseeing attractions, and it can be visited during hassle-free day trips from Inverness.

Eilean Donan isn’t the only castle worth seeing on the Isle of Skye. There’s also the 800-year-old Dunvegan Castle: the seat of Clan MacLeod, and officially the oldest continually occupied castle in the entire country. The living landmark is open from April through October each year, and visitors are free to explore its interior on a guided or self-guided tour, as well as wander its 5 acres (2 hectares) of formal gardens.

For nature lovers, Dunvegan additionally offers one of the best castle tours in the Scottish Highlands: Its seal boat tours on Loch Dunvegan visit the local seal colony, and offer a playful contrast to the castle’s pomp.

No Scotland castle travel guide is complete without Urquhart Castle—even though Urquhart Castle is no longer complete. The millennia-old landmark, which famously stands on the shores of Loch Ness, has witnessed some of Scotland’s most dramatic conflicts, from clan rivalries and the Wars of Independence with England to the Jacobite Rebellion, when it was unceremoniously blown up.

As a result, it stands as a ruin today, though that’s somehow only made it more picturesque. After exploring, go for a cruise on Loch Ness (and keep your eyes peeled for Nessie), or continue to nearby highlights, whether Culloden Battlefield (where the 1745 Jacobite Rising was brutally crushed) or the prehistoric Clava Cairns.

Upon arriving at Dunrobin Castle in the Northern Highlands, you’d be forgiven for feeling confused. With its fairy-tale turrets and grand, château-like architecture, the castle looks like it has been transported straight from the Loire Valley. One of the most historic castles in the Scottish Highlands, and one of the largest, Dunrobin has been home to the Dukes of Sutherland for centuries.

Credit for its appearance goes to architect Sir Charles Barry, who also had a hand in designing the Houses of Parliament in London. You can learn more about his influence—and about the castle’s long history—during a visit to its on-site museum. And don’t forget to take in a falconry demonstration on its lawn.

It’s hard to find a more classic “castle” than Cawdor Castle, located near Inverness. The 14th-century fortress comes complete with turrets, a moat, a drawbridge, and a medieval tower house. But that’s where the straight-out-of-central-casting attributes end. Cawdor Castle is home to many unique features, from the ancient holly tree (an important pagan symbol) around which its Tower Room was constructed to its three distinctive gardens.

Then there are the castle’s literary associations: It famously features in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. That makes it one of the top Scottish Highland castles for fans of the Bard—though you don’t need a degree in English literature to enjoy a castle tour.

Brodie Castle might well be one of Scotland’s most cheerful castles. Credit its pinkish hue, as well as the fact that it boasts one of the country’s finest collections of daffodils (including more than 100 varieties of the flower). Its lawns are ideal for picnicking, and it’s even home to a Playful Garden, which includes unicorn sculptures, interactive playgrounds, and other features to entertain younger visitors.

But not to worry if you’re after a more grown-up experience. You can always head inside to explore Brodie Castle’s impressive library, period furnishings, and collection of artworks, including 17th-century paintings by the Dutch masters.

Kilchurn Castle sure has an apt location. Situated on the shores of Loch Awe near Oban, it indeed inspires awe in all who trek to this mountainous corner of the Highlands. Once a 15th-century fortress and later a garrison, Kilchurn Castle is home to some of the oldest surviving barracks in the United Kingdom. After being abandoned in the 18th century, the castle slowly crumbled into ruins. Today—offset by the snowy peak of Ben Cruachan, and shrouded in lake mist—it’s easily one of the most picturesque (and uncoincidentally most photographed) castles in all of Scotland.