Majestic Castles of Scotland

Buchanan Castle is a relatively new Castle built in 1852 but is now an overgrown ruin.

It sits not far from the route of the West Highland Way in the County of Stirlingshire about 2 miles from the village of Drymen.

The major claim to fame is that it served as a temporary prison for Rudolf Hess, the deputy Fuhrer of Germany who escaped to Scotland  during the second world war.

It is a castle worth visiting if only to see a building transformed by nature over a period of only 60 years.

Taken by drone

Blackness Castle

Once a rarely visited castle but has now become a popular visitor attraction due to its appearance in "Outlander" where it is cast as the location for Fort William.

Its original purpose was to defend the upper Firth of Forth and latterly served as a prison.

The distinctive shape, clear from this photograph has earned it the nickname "The ship that never sailed"

Taken by drone

Edinburgh Castle

Scotland's most famous castle which also contains the oldest building in Edinburgh, Saint Margaret's chapel.

Reputed to be the most besieged Castle in the UK, attacked no less than 23 times. A daring raid by 30 of Robert the Bruce's men in 1314, climbing castle rock and recapturing the castle from the English prior to the battle of Bannockburn. The half moon battery in the photograph replaced David's Tower which was destroyed by English cannon during the Laing Siege (1571-3)

Canon EOS 80D 35mm f4 1/2000s ISO 400

Dirleton Castle

The oldest parts of this imposing fortress date back to the 13th century. Its primary role was to protect the route from North Berwick to Edinburgh and featured during the wars of independence

It was also the prison and point of execution of 6 witches during the witch persecutions of  the 16th to 18th centuries

Taken by Drone

Stirling Castle

Strategically situated as gateway between the lowlands and highlands of Scotland, overlooking the scene of the battle of Stirling Bridge.

The Castle was the English target before the Battle of  Bannockburn. Inside the castle you can find how Mary Queen of Scots and her son James the 6th lived.

Sat on a volcanic outcrop the castle dominates the Carse of Stirling.