8 Beautiful Castles To Visit in the Scottish Highlands
There are SO many castles to visit in the Scottish Highlands, and no trip to Scotland would be complete without visiting at least some of them.
But there are a LOT of castles in Scotland (over 2000, to be exact!)
And while many are genuinely incredible to visit, some are harder to get to than they look, others are quick photo stops rather than proper visits, and a few honestly just don’t live up to the hype.
So after touring the Highlands myself several times (including visiting more than 15 beautiful Scottish castles!), these are the 8 I’d recommend you add to your itinerary.
Let’s get into the best castles you must visit in the Scottish Highlands!
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Best Time to Visit Castles in the Scottish Highlands
When you visit these castles in the Scottish Highlands can completely change your experience, both in terms of crowds and how the landscape actually looks.
In my experience, May, June or September are perfect.
You’ll get longer daylight hours (which is so important for road trips!), generally decent weather (although don’t hold me to that – it’s Scotland!), and fewer crowds than in summer.
Don’t get me wrong, July and August are still stunning, but they’re also the busiest months in Scotland, and that can definitely take away from the experience.
And then winter is a lot more unreliable for sightseeing. You’ll get moody, dramatic scenery and quiet castles, but with shorter days, potential road issues, and limited opening hours.
Do You Need a Car?
For most of these castles in the Scottish Highlands, yes, a car makes things so much easier.
Public transport exists in the Highlands, but it is often unpredictable and generally only connects the larger towns and cities.
Whereas driving gives you full flexibility. You’re not tied to anyone else’s schedule, you can stop whenever you want, and you can adjust your plans if the weather changes.
But if you are nervous about driving in Scotland (which I completely get!), I recommend joining organised day tours to see most of these castles instead.
8 Best Castles To Visit in The Scottish Highlands
1. Eilean Donan Castle
With a car: 1 hour 45 minutes from Inverness or 1.5 hours from Fort William
Without a car: Visit Eilean Donan on this tour to the Isle of Skye from Inverness
Opening hours: Varies seasonally. In summer, daily 10am to 6pm.
Can’t miss: Walking along the banks of the loch surrounding Eilean Donan!
If you’ve ever seen pictures of the famous Scottish Highland castles on Instagram or Pinterest, chances are you’ve seen Eilean Donan Castle.
Sitting on a tiny island where three lochs meet, it is easily one of the best castles in the Scottish Highlands – and one of the most photographed in the entire country!
Eilean Donan is located in Kyle of Lochalsh, just before the bridge to the Isle of Skye, which makes it a really easy stop on a Scottish Highlands road trip.
But the spectacular setting is what makes Eilean Donan so special and worth visiting!
You’ve got mountains in the background, the loch on all sides, and the iconic stone bridge leading you straight into the castle.
It genuinely feels like it should be a film set or the setting for a fantasy novel!
Inside, it’s quite small, but still worth doing if you enjoy history and are interested in Scottish clan life and restoration work (the castle was rebuilt in the 20th century after being destroyed in the 1700s).
But, even if you don’t go inside, the views alone are more than worth the visit!
Katie’s Top Tip: I love Eilean Donan because it actually lives up to the hype, but timing makes so much difference! Weekends and peak summer are very busy, so I recommend visiting early in the morning, on a weekday, or outside of peak season for the best experience.
2. Inveraray Castle
With a car: 2 hours 20 minutes from Edinburgh or 1.5 hours from Glasgow
Without a car: See Inveraray Castle and other highlights of the Highlands on this guided day tour from Glasgow!
Opening hours: Open from March 28th to October 31st, 10am to 5pm
Can’t miss: Walking into the town of Inveraray itself
While Eilean Donan is dramatic and rugged, elegant Inveraray Castle is its polar opposite!
Located in the small town of Inveraray on the west coast of Scotland, this is one of the best castles to visit in Scotland if you want that classic fairytale feel.
Surrounded by mountains, Inveraray Castle has grand turrets, perfectly kept gardens and woodland to explore, and a grand interior.
Plus, it’s the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll (the chief of Clan Campbell), and his family still live in Inveraray Castle to this day!
Inside the castle, you’ll see impressive armour collections, beautifully decorated rooms, and a glimpse into aristocratic life in Scotland.
And outside the grounds are just as impressive, famous for their rhododendrons in spring as well as their incredible walks throughout the wider estate.
During your visit, I recommend hiking to nearby Dun Na Cuaiche Viewpoint for a spectacular view over Loch Fyne and Inveraray.
Katie’s Top Tip: Don’t rush off after visiting the castle. My highlight was actually walking into the town of Inveraray and along the banks of Loch Fyne for more breathtaking views!
3. Balmoral Castle
With a car: 1 hour 10 minutes from Aberdeen or 2 hours 20 minutes from Edinburgh
Without a car: Visit Balmoral Castle on this guided tour from Aberdeen!
Opening hours: Open from March 28th to August 9th, 10am to 5pm
Can’t miss: The green walking loop to see Balmoral Castle from above
Balmoral is my favourite castle in Scotland!
And I’m in good company with that, as it was thought to be the late Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite royal residence (she spent every summer holiday at Balmoral).
To this day, Balmoral is still an active and much-loved royal retreat, and has been ever since the time of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria.
But aside from its royal connections, Balmoral is breathtaking in its own right, set in Royal Deeside surrounded by the Cairngorms National Park.
You can’t access the entire castle, but the grounds, gardens, ballroom, and any exhibitions are open seasonally (usually from spring to summer).
My favourite walk in the grounds is the green loop, with incredible elevated views looking back over the castle with the Cairngorm mountains behind it – and no one else around.
Plus, there are even the most adorable resident Highland Cows here!
Katie’s Top Tip: Don’t just stick to the main castle area – follow one of the many walking routes on the estate. The views looking back over Balmoral from above are spectacular!
4. Urquhart Castle
With a car: 30 minutes from Inverness or 1 hour from Fort William
Without a car: Visit Urquhart Castle on this guided tour from Inverness!
Opening hours: Open daily. 9:30am to 6pm in summer (till 4:30pm in winter)
Can’t miss: See Urquhart Castle from the water, on a Loch Ness Cruise!
Urquhart Castle is one of the most famous stops on any Highlands itinerary.
Set right on the banks of Loch Ness, these dramatic ruins are easily one of the best castles to visit in the Scottish Highlands for the views alone!
You’ve got the loch stretching out in front of you, mountains in the distance and, of course, the ruined remains of the centuries-old Urquhart Castle in the foreground.
It really is the perfect photo opportunity!
You can explore the site, climb the Grant Tower for a higher viewpoint, and learn about its history in the visitor centre, but I’ll be honest, the highlight for me wasn’t at the castle at all.
It was seeing it from the water.
I joined a Loch Ness boat trip that passed right by Urquhart Castle, and I genuinely think it’s the best view of this spectacular, dramatic ruined castle!
Katie’s Top Tip: Pair your visit to the castle with a Loch Ness boat trip. In my opinion, seeing Urquhart Castle from the water is so much more impressive than just seeing it on land!
5. Cawdor Castle
With a car: 25 minutes from Inverness
Without a car: Visit Cawdor Castle and the Cairngorms on this guided tour from Inverness!
Opening hours: Open April 30th to October 3rd. The castle is open from 10am to 4pm, while the gardens are open from 10am to 5:30pm.
Can’t miss: The peaceful woodland walk in the estate surrounding Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle is a bit more of a hidden gem – and that’s part of its charm!
It’s located in Nairnshire, just outside of the city of Inverness, which makes it really easy to fit into your existing Highlands itinerary without going out of your way.
The castle itself dates back to a 15th-century tower house and is still lived in today by the Dowager Countess Cawdor and her family.
Inside, the castle interior is cosy, traditional, and bursting with character, but the real highlight for me was the grounds!
The Walled Garden is the oldest and most beautiful garden at Cawdor Castle, and then there are also the Flower Garden and the Wild Garden to explore.
I also loved walking in the estate’s peaceful (and totally underrated) woodland – known as The Big Wood. (Just remember to take a photo of the map before you go, as the signage for the woodland paths isn’t always clear!)
Plus, Cawdor is also famously linked to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, as one of the characters in the novel was the Thane of Cawdor!
Katie’s Top Tip: Give yourself time here to properly explore the gardens and walk the peaceful woodland paths, not just the castle interior.
6. Inverness Castle
With a car: In Inverness City
Without a car: Visit Inverness Castle on foot while exploring the city of Inverness.
Opening hours: Open daily. But timings vary seasonally.
Can’t miss: The view of Inverness Castle from the opposite bank of the River Ness!
Inverness Castle has now officially reopened, after being shut for a long four years (for a huge £47 million upgrade to a tourist attraction!)
The castle itself was a former sheriff court and prison, and now houses an interactive exhibit, looking at the Highlands’ extensive history and culture.
The striking red-brick castle is located above the River Ness, in the heart of the city centre of Inverness, making it an easy stop on any Highlands itinerary.
I know I can’t wait to visit inside now that it has reopened, on my next trip to Scotland.
But even if you don’t have time to go inside, Inverness Castle is always well worth a photo stop during your time in Inverness.
Katie’s Top Tip: Head to the riverside on the opposite bank for the best view of Inverness Castle. It’s my favourite photo spot in Inverness!
7. Stirling Castle
With a car: 1 hour from Edinburgh. 35 minutes from Glasgow.
Without a car: Visit Stirling Castle by train or on this guided tour from Edinburgh!
Opening hours: Open daily. But timings vary seasonally.
Can’t miss: The view of the Wallace Monument from Stirling Castle
Stirling is seen as the gateway to the Highlands, and it’s a great stop if you’re driving north from Edinburgh at the start of your road trip.
But equally, if you’re visiting the Highlands without a car, Stirling is an easy stop on the train.
Stirling Castle is perched high on a volcanic rock, overlooking the city of Stirling, the surrounding countryside, and the National Wallace Monument.
So, of course, the views are spectacular and well worth the visit alone!
But Stirling Castle also played a huge role in Scotland’s history, including royal connections to Mary, Queen of Scots – who was crowned in the chapel here.
The interiors at Stirling Castle have been beautifully restored and are some of the most impressive in Scotland, with fascinating exhibits throughout.
Plus, Stirling is also incredibly easy to reach from Edinburgh or Glasgow, which makes it a perfect first stop before heading deeper into the Highlands!
Katie’s Top Tip: Go early in the day if you can, as Stirling is one of the most popular castles in Scotland, and it gets busy quickly, especially in peak season.
8. Scone Palace
With a car: 1 hour 20 minutes from Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Without a car: Visit Scone Palace by bus 3 or 58 from Perth. Or by train and taxi.
Opening hours: The gardens are open from January 22nd to March 21st, Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. The palace and gardens are open daily from April 1st to October 31st, 10am to 5:30pm.
Can’t miss: Seeing the replica “Stone of Scone” in the grounds of the palace
Scone Palace, located in Perth, is another one that sits at the gateway to the Highlands, but I loved it so much I just had to include it on this list!
It is where Scottish kings were crowned, including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce, which makes it one of the most historically significant sites in the whole country.
Plus, today Scone Palace is still home to the Earls of Mansfield.
But what surprised me most, despite how historically significant it is, was how relaxed it felt to visit, compared to more well-known Stirling Castle.
The palace itself is beautiful to visit inside, with a guided tour taking you through the spectacular Palace State Rooms, where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dined in 1842.
But the grounds of Scone Palace were my favourite part of the visit!
Close to the palace, you can see a replica of the “Stone of Scone”, which was historically used to crown Scotland’s Kings.
And then in the wider estate, there is a walled garden bursting with flowers, a pinetum with beautiful walks to enjoy, and even peacocks roaming free!
Katie’s Top Tip: The Stone of Scone is a very popular photo spot in the palace grounds, so I recommend visiting it early or close to closing time for the quietest experience.
Final Thoughts: Which Castles Are Worth It?
If you’re trying to decide on the best castles to visit in the Scottish Highlands, know that you don’t need to see them all to have an incredible trip!
For me, my favourite castles to visit in the Scottish Highlands were:
- Eilean Donan Castle for the incredible loch setting
- Balmoral Castle for the incredible walks and, of course, highland cows
- Cawdor Castle – a true hidden gem!
But, no matter which you pick, all 8 of the incredible castles on this list are beautiful and truly unforgettable to visit in their own right!
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