The best castle to visit in Scotland and why?

Answer 1

Actually Mary Queen of Scots never lived at Edinburgh Castle, but Holyrood Palace.
If you are going to visit castles in Scotland at this time of the year you have to remember that many of them are closed to the public and are only open in the summer season.
I would recommend Ecclesgrieg House in the small village of St. Cyrus, north of Montrose on the east coast of Scotland. You can get a permission to enter the grounds from the owner. This castles was thought to be the model for Dracula's castle in Bram Stoker's famous novel. It's simply stunning and not often visited. It's got a "haunting" atmosphere and you are likely never to forget it. It's one of Scotland's forgotten treasures. If you click in to my blog you can see a photo of it.

Answer 2

Dunnottar is really awful! And to suggest some old privately owned house at St. Cyrus is just being downright mischievous. I was also amused by the uneducated claim that mary Queen of Scots NEVER lived at Edinburgh Castle- this is nonsense, too of course.

Seriously I have been in probably 90% of the castles in Scotland and Edinburgh is by far the best. By a mile.

Next best is Stirling Castle, actually quite similar to Edinburgh but a LOT quieter because the tourists seem to miss it out, somehow.

My personal favourite- the only one I visit every year- is Glamis ( pronounced Glams) which is just north of Dundee, about 45 miles north of Edinburgh. It is allegedly castle of Macbeth, is reputedly the most haunted building in Scotland and it is where the queen Mother was brought up ( but not born). It is full of some very interesting stuff indeed. Not to be missed.

Actually I see a couple of people on here just plugging their "local "castle. They are narrow mindedly recommending a load of rubbish, in my opinion. If you read any history book on Scotland you'll notice that aberdeen and the other "north East" agricultural areas scarcely merit a mention.

Answer 3

Edinburgh, is the best for Scottish History in General, if your going to Scotland, you have to stop in Edinburgh and see see everything on the Royal Mile, but the best castle I toured was actually Stirling Castle their is a lot of History there, and it is a beutiful town and is overlooked by a monument to William Wallace which is amazing.

Answer 4

I personally liked these:

Tantallon - east of Edinburgh, along the coast and beautiful with reddish stone.

Urquhart - just below Inverness along Loch Ness. Ruined enough to make it interesting, intact enough to get the idea of its size.

Huntly - Has these beautiful carvings that are still intact.

Eilean Donan - A bit more commercial, but the location is phenomenal!

slightly shameless plug, but you can check out the website I created about the castles I visited at the link below.

Answer 5

I have been to a lot of castles. If I had to choose only one in Scotland it would be Edinburghh castle. It is a magnificent castle for sure and it is in a brilliant city. Also in Edinburg there is a TARDIS style phone box.
If you want to find out more about the castle itself google or wikipedia it, but really trust me - it is great.

Have fun whichever castle you choose to visit.

Answer 6

Edinburgh Castle - It's super duper old, Mary Queen of Scots lived there, and if you go on the right day, you'll get a sample of the most delicious coffee liquor - Highland Creme.

Check out the sites below for more info.

Answer 7

Dunottar Castle in the north east beside stonehaven is beautiful just ignore that other racist towards people and all things from the north east(the one who says dunottar is awful) he has a problem with everything north of stonehaven bit of a hypocrite if you ask me, anyhoo's Dunotter is a fantastic day out there is a coastal footpath leading to the castle from stonehaven harbour(about 2 mile's) you first get amazing scenary of the harbour, then you walk past the war memorial, you can also get great views of the castle from a distance when you get there its a small fare to get in and its steeped in history, the castle is kept in fantastic conditions with lots of stuff to read and see inside, a great day out
http://www.castles.org/Chatelaine/dunnottar/

Answer 8

Edinburgh castle by far, even though I Live in Edinburgh !!
open 365 days a year,Go for the one o'clock gun set off mon to sat

Answer 9

Dunottar Castle near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. It's a beautiful ruined castle on a breathtaking clifftop - Mel Gibson's Hamlet was filmed there. On a nice day, it's stunning - a bit cold when it's windy though!

Answer 10

If it was me doing the travelling, first of all, i would visit the home of some of my ancestors Inveraray Castle, which is where my line of Campbells came from, from there i would probably move onto, Eilean Donan (Donan's Island), Urquhart, Elgin Cathedral, and last Rosslyn Chapel.