At one time, Scotland was home to more than 4,000 castles. It’s an extraordinary number for such a small country and today, around 3,000 still stand. Some are world famous, others have inspired great works of literature, while others have lit up the silver screen. There are grand, ticketed visitor attractions but there are others which are unassuming structures so tucked away that only the locals seem to know about them. From the triangular-shaped Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and Galloway to the imposing New Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire, and from the magnificent fortress that dominates the Edinburgh skyline to the haunting battlements that stand on the banks of Loch Ness, each tower tells a story, every turret holds a secret and, together, they span centuries of fascinating Scottish history. A History and Guide to Scottish Castles explores the history, architecture, and legends of some of these fascinating fortresses and looks at why they are so appealing to visitors today. Sharing amazing facts and her own unique experiences, author Jenna Maxwell takes readers on an unforgettable tour of some of Scotland’s most amazing castles which, if you haven’t visited them already, you’ll soon want to. Jenna has documented her journey on her Instagram page @queenofthecastles

The definitive and most comprehensive collection on castles, towers, and fortified houses of Scotland, with historical accounts, visitor information, and maps.

This new edition has been called "the bible of Scottish castles." It is the only book to cover all of them -- a comprehensive reference and gazetteer to more than 2,700 castles and fortified sites. Heavily illustrated throughout with more than 300 photographs and drawings, this new edition has been completely revised, expanded, and updated, with information on 600 new sites. This is an easy-to-use alphabetical guide and gazetteer, with comprehensive listings, index of sites reputed to be haunted, a family names index, and twenty pages of maps locating every castle in Scotland. No castle enthusiast should be without this book. The culmination of ten years' research, The Castles of Scotland offers comprehensive information on the fortified buildings of Scotland, including histories, ownership, locations, facilities, and visitor access. The 2,700 sites discussed include the largest strongholds to the smallest ruins to mere sites. The history of a castle is as important as the physical remains. Some strongholds have a long and fascinating past yet no more than a vestige of their former strength survives, such as the castles at Inverness, Roxburgh, or Dunbar. Few castles can match the stark and romantic beauty of Eilean Donan Castle, or the majestic and imposing grandeur of Ballindalloch Castle or Crathes Castle, the dangerous cliffside setting of Dunnottar Castle, or the picturesque Kilchurn Castle. New for this edition: -- 670 new sites added -- historic houses and mansions open to the public now included -- improved and increased number of illustrations -- updated, corrected and more-detailed entries -- access details for the year 2001 and full list of facilities nowincluded -- 16 pages of full color photographs added to the cloth edition

A must for all those who want to visit Scotland's many castles. The book covers all of the coutry's famous strongholds, as well as many lesser-known places, with location, access, visitor facilities, and contact details. There is a map, many photos, a glossary of architectural terms, and a family-name index, allowing the reader to identify any castle associated with their family.

With the exception of the key royal sites, such as Stirling and Edinburgh, few Scottish castles were located at strategic points, or were intended to house garrisons required to defend or subjugate towns. Instead they were primarily fortified dwelling houses, erected in an environment of weak Royal authority and endemic feuding between rival clans and groups, in both Highland and Lowland areas. Although some enceinte castles were developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, most defensive construction focused on the tower house, a distinctive vernacular style of Scottish fortification. This book examines the design, development, and purpose of these quintessentially Scottish buildings, and also covers larger sites such as Urquhart and Blackness.

The Pictorial Directory of Scotland's Castles is a unique publication. Over a three-year period, I have compiled a list of over 1000 Scottish castles. I decided some time ago that I would attempt something which, to the best of my knowledge, had never been done before. I was going to attempt to visit every Scottish castle which still had visible remains above ground, find as many as I could, photograph each one and list it with a brief history of each castle. I have included hand-painted coats of arms of the clan chiefs and nobility who owned them and the clan crests. On each castle page, I have also given detailed directions on how to find each castle, complete with a What3words location, some tips on accessibility, facilities, nearby points of interest, examples of clan tartans, plant badges, and much more.

Presents original maps, plans and archive illustrations alongside hundreds of photographs, showing ruins and surviving castles in their glory. This work includes descriptions of hundreds of special buildings, from remote ruins in isolated settings to imposing piles in towns and cities.

The volcanic crag that dominates Stirling was probably fortified from ancient times, but the importance of Stirling Castle as a royal residence peaked in the 16th century. Around 1500, James IV added new buildings including the vast Great Hall. The elegant Chapel Royal was built by James VI in 1594. But the heart of Stirling Castle is the spectacular Palace, commissioned by James V in the 1530s. Its exuberant design drew on the fashions of the European Renaissance to express James's power and sophistication. Following a major programme of research, Historic Scotland has re-presented the Palace interiors as they might have looked when James V's grand scheme was completed.This book also includes a guide to Argyll's Lodging and Mar's Wark, grand residences occupied by major nobles near castle.

In this exciting and lavishly illustrated new guide, Damien Noonan explores a variety of historic sites.

26 houses photographed in colour and accompanied by informative text about their history.