Despite its remoteness and raw beauty, the Highlands are steeped in history and its legacy of clans and, at times, turbulent past can be seen across the territories.
Many castles and forts can be visited today and can often be found in truly extraordinary settings from dramatic coastlines, mysterious lochs, and rugged mountains.
Here is a selection of Highland castles that you ought to include in your next itinerary and a short background of how they came to be.
Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is situated about 5 miles from Nairn within Inverness-Shire and famously features in Shakespeare’s literary masterpiece Macbeth.
Cawdor Castle dates back to the 14th century when the Cawdow Clan owned the land before eventually being handed to the Campbells in the 16th century.
Imposing Cawdor Castle is still in excellent condition and can be visited today, experiencing some of the grand parts of it such as the Dining Room and Tapestry Bedroom, as well as seeing the Dungeon and the Holly Tree which the castle is claimed to have been built around.
Outside of the castle, visitors can experience three beautiful gardens, Cawdor Big Wood, and even a 9-hole golf course.
Urquhart Castle
Lying on the edge of legendary Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle is one of Scotland’s most famous castles given its 1,000 years of history and proximity to Nessy herself!
This is the site that saw acts of defiance during the Scottish Wars of Independence and where the Macdonalds tussled for power with the Crown.
The site nowadays is a ruin but it’s worth a visit to learn more about the tumultuous history that permeates this area and experience the amazing beauty of Loch Ness and the surrounding area.
Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is the largest house in the Highlands and it looks like something out of a Disney movie with its towering spires and glorious gardens, reminiscent of a great French chateau rather than a traditional Highlands stronghold.
Dunrobin is one of Britain’s oldest continually habited houses dating back to the 1300s with notable residents the Earls and later the Dukes of Sutherland.
The castle is open from late March to October and is situated just outside of Golspie in the Eastern Highlands, overlooking the Moray Firth.
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan is iconic of Scottish Highland landscapes with its breathtaking position that it occupies perched on its island, at the confluence of three great sea lochs, overlooking the Isle of Skye. It is no wonder then that this is one of Scotland’s most widely photographed spots.
The first castle at this site was established in the 13th century by Alexander II to repel the region from Viking raids but it was perhaps in the 18th century that one of the castle’s most noteworthy historical events when the British government learned that the castle was being occupied with Jacobite leaders, as well as a garrison of Spanish soldiers.
Such an event spelt the end of the castle as it lay mostly in ruin to the present day. Visitors can come to the site to learn more about the history with Jacobite artefacts, fine art, and weapons on display.
The castle is open between March and December.
Dunvegan Castle
Delightful Dunvegan Castle is a must-visit for anyone who ventures to the Isle of Skye and the castle’s estate itself has won numerous awards for its creative vision.
Dunvegan is the oldest continually inhabited castle in all of Scotland with the Macleod clan still in residence some nine centuries later.
Dunvegan welcomes thousands of tourists to this historic palace every year and is open from April to October, even offering seal-spotting trips from its jetty until September.
What are your favourite castles in the Highlands and why?
Let us know in the comments below!
