10 Best Castles Near Edinburgh

Scotland is home to some of the most iconic medieval film locations, thanks to its unique and beautiful castles. If you're planning a holiday to Scotland, you can't miss the best of them. While some castles are still owned by wealthy Scottish families, others have been converted into hotels and museums and are easily accessible. If you're wondering what to see and do in Edinburgh, here are the best castles near the city. Are you in?

This castle holds the top spot on the podium of the country's most visited attractions, which is really no mean feat. It is rare that you visit Edinburgh and are not tempted to climb the hill and enter this almost 1000 year old piece of infrastructure.

Edinburgh Castle stands on a large volcanic rock and dominates the city's skyline. But as well as the views, inside the castle there are many buildings and great attractions. Once you know all about visiting Edinburgh Castle, don't hesitate to book your guided tour in advance to ensure your visit.

Useful facts

• Location: Edinburgh Castle, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2N
• Price: Adults around £40
• Opening times: April to September 9.30am-6pm. October to March 10am to 4pm.

Second on the list of the most visited castles, this immense castle is surrounded by breathtaking cliffs. Less than an hour's train ride from Edinburgh, the landscape changes completely and you come across the perfectly preserved fortress of Stirling Castle.

If you're a little familiar with the picture and don't know where from, then mystery solved. The film Braveheart, starring Mel Gilbson, tells the story of the Scottish liberator William Wallace, who also has an imposing monument in his name at this location: a huge 67-metre high tower!

If you've already decided to include it in your trip, you can book an excursion to Stirling, Loch Lomond and the Kelpies from Edinburgh. Remember to visit the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regiment Prison and Museum, where you can see the largest medieval banqueting hall in Scotland.

Facts of Interest

• Location: Stirling Castle, Castle Esplanade, Stirling, FK8 1EJ
• Price: Adults around £60
• Opening times: 27 December to 4 January, 10am to 4pm. 5 January to 31 March and 1 October to 24 December, 9.30am to 5pm. From 1 April to 30 September, from 9.30am to 6pm.

On a small island connected to the mainland by a modest bridge, you come across one of the most beautiful castles near Edinburgh, Eilean Donan Castle. So much so that many directors have chosen to move here to film scenes for their movies. The Immortals, Braveheart, The World Is Never Enough and My Girlfriend's Wedding are just a few of the long list of hits.

This landmark of the famous Scottish Highlands (which you can easily visit on a day trip from Edinburgh) has spectacular views, but the interior is also worth a visit. In fact, today, it is the official residence of the Clan McRae. Lucky them, aren't they?

Interesting facts

• Location: Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DX, UK
• Price: Adults around £12 and children £6.
• Opening times: The castle is closed to visitors from 22 December to 1 March. 2 March to 26 March, 10am to 4pm. From 27th March to 30th June, from 10am to 6pm. From July 1st to August 31st, from 9am to 6pm and in September, from 9.30am to 6pm.

Only ruins remain of the castle itself. But what's remarkable about Dunnottar Castle is its dramatic and utterly strategic location, and all the viewpoints you can explore around it.

It stands right on the edge of some immense cliffs- quite a film set. In fact, if you dare, you can head down to the beach and see it from another perspective. With a full view of the North Sea, it served as a control point for maritime trade back in the 15th century, many, many years ago.

Interesting facts

• Location: Dunnottar Castle Stonehaven AB39 2TL
• Admission: Adults around £10, children £5
• Opening times: 1 April to 30 September, 9am-6pm. From 1 October to 30 October, from 10am to 5pm. From October 31st to January 29th, from 10am to 3pm. From January 30th to February 26th, from 10hs to 16hs. And from February 27th to March 31st, from 10am to 5pm.

Urquhart Castle is part of the Scottish National Heritage and is the third most visited castle in Scotland. It was built in the 13th century, and due to its great age there are mostly ruins left, but you'll have no trouble imagining what a spectacular fortress it was in its glory years. In fact, it was the English who destroyed it to prevent the Jacobites from invading, otherwise it would probably still be standing.

You'll find the famous Loch Ness at its foot and one tour you might want to book is this one that links Loch Ness and the Highlands. When you stand in front of one of the most famous lochs in the world, with the distinctive sound of bagpipes, and the old castle in front of your eyes, it will undoubtedly be one of your best memories of your time in Scotland.

And who knows... if you're lucky you might even see Nessie coming to say hello. Here's a post on how to get to Loch Ness from Edinburgh so you have all the information you need.

Interesting facts

• Location: Urquhart Castle By Drumnadrochi Near Inverness IV63 6XJ
• Tickets: Adults around £12 and children £7
• Opening times: 1 April to 30 September, 9.30am-6pm. 1 October to 31 October, 9.30am to 5pm. From 1 November to 24 December and from 5 January to 31 March, from 9.30am to 4.30pm. And from December 27th to January 4th, from 10am to 4pm.

Craigievar Castle 's distinctive colour and elegant appearance make it one of the best preserved castles in Scotland - it looks like something out of a fairytale! And many brides choose to have their wedding photos taken with this medieval fortress as a backdrop.

This piece of Scottish stately architecture has two peculiarities that attract visitors. The first is a piper figure with a gargoyle, whose expression shows that she is tired of hearing it, and the second is its magnificent interior. The state of conservation is truly incredible and just by entering the halls, you will be transported back in time. Its furniture, paintings and everyday items from centuries ago are part of a perfect scenography.

On this visit you can be accompanied by an expert guide who will tell you about the history of the castle, details about the period and the objects in the rooms. One of them is the Craigievar Table, a table used by the lords to play cards. Highly recommended.

Interesting facts

• Location: Craigievar Castle. Alford. Aberdeenshire AB33 8JF
• Tickets: around £18
• Opening times: The castle is closed from 27 September to 31 March. 1 April to 31 May, Friday to Monday, 10.30am to 4pm. From 1 June to 31 August, every day, from 10.30am to 4pm and from 1 September to 26 September, from Friday to Monday, from 10.30am to 4pm.

Here is a gothic style castle for you to enjoy a different but equally incredible architecture. This fortress is not the castle it was originally, but it is just as spectacular. Nowadays, Inveraray Castle is the residence of a duke, but there are guided tours so that everyone can enjoy it as much as he and his family.

In fact, if you are a series lover and you know Downton Abbey, you probably remember Inveraray Castle, as it has been used as a film set for some episodes. Do you remember it?

The most curious fact I have read about it is that not a single brick has been moved since it was built. Instead, the entire village has moved to give the castle the privacy and seclusion it deserves. Amazing, isn't it?

Interesting facts

• Location: Inveraray Castle, Inveraray PA32 8XE, UK
• Admission: Adults around £18 and children £13
• Opening times: 1 April to 31 October, 10am to 5pm

The town of Blackness is just outside Edinburgh and you can enjoy the fully reconstructed Blackness Castle. Here you no longer need your imagination, entering the castle is to automatically feel like you are in medieval times.

This fortress was built to defend the main port of the time and its silhouette will remind you of a very large ship. That is why it is known as "the ship that never sailed". The north and south towers are usually called bow and stern and the central tower is called the great mast.

Although its rooms are empty, its structure is impressive and so are the views. And for Outlander fans, you will be able to identify this location in the first season. I recommend you to hire an Outlanders tour if you are a fan of the saga.

Interesting facts

• Location: Blackness, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 7NH
• Tickets: Adults around £8, children £5
• Opening times: 1 April to 23 December and 29 and 30 December, daily except Fridays, 10am to 4pm. From January 5th to March 31st, every day from 10am to 4pm.

This fortress was built in the 10th century and is one of the best known in Scotland. Both for being closely linked to the British family (it was the maiden residence of Queen Elizabeth, mother of the famous Elizabeth II) and for being used by Shakespeare in one of his most famous plays: Macbeth

But if we talk about Glamis Castle itself, you can visit an old tower house where you can see towers and battlements at different heights with beautiful views of the surroundings. But what everyone wants to see is Duncan's Hall, which is where Macbeth is said to have killed King Duncan. I'm sorry to confess that this is a complete lie, but the fame has remained intact.

Interesting facts

• Location: Glamis Castle Angus Scotland DD8 1RJ
• Tickets: Adults around £19, children £12
• Opening times: From 18 January to 28 March and on weekends only, you can visit the gardens only, from 10am to 5pm. From 28 March to 31 October, you can also visit the interior during the same hours.

Following on from Macbeth and the literary connection, last on this list is Cawdor Castle. If you're thinking about the book, I have to confess that originally all the events on which the story is based took place many years before this fortress was built.

You can visit the castle and feast your eyes on the impressive living room. Why is it so striking? On its wall you can see all the portraits of generations of the Campbell family, the family who lived there in the 15th century.

Also very popular are the perfectly preserved tapestries in the bedrooms, and the kitchen full of antique items, almost as if no time has passed at all. And for nature lovers, the gardens are very extensive and open to the public, and definitely an attraction in itself.

Interesting facts

• Location: Cawdor Castle, Nairn IV12 5RD, UK
• Entry fee: Adults around £19 and children £12
• Opening times: Open daily, 10am to 5.30pm, 1 May to 1 October.

There are castles to suit all tastes in Scotland. If you're planning to visit more than one of them, including Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle, you'll want to buy an Explorer Pass.

As well as each castle having its own ticket and price, the Explorer Pass includes 78 of Scotland's top heritage attractions for a single fee. Note that there are some castles that are privately run and the Explorer Pass will not work for you, such as Eilean Donan Castle or Dunnottar Castle.

I think the Explorer Pass is an ideal option if, like many tourists, you want to visit more than one city and visit different attractions. It will also allow you to skip the queue at each attraction, so you will also be saving time, a valuable resource on your holiday.