This ended up being one of my FAVE castle ruins I visited in all of Scotland! Dunstaffnage is one…read moreof the oldest castles still standing in Scotland and the ruins are in great shape and very well kept. These ruins are very imposing and dramatic, a giant structure rising up out of a huge black boulder- looming over the Loch Etive and Firth of Lorne (both gorgeous bodies of water)!! The views from the castle wall are incredible! You can pretty much walk all around the ruins, on top along most of the wall, and all through the old dungeons ("donjon") and through the whole 3-story gatehouse! But my fave part was the absolutely lovely chapel ruins deep in the forest surrounding the castle! The ruins are just beautiful and the ambiance is eerie and haunting and perfect for spooky season! The history of this site is extensive - the castle itself was built back in the early 1200s. It has seen much violence and has more than a few ghost stories - even a tragic love story surrounding the chapel involving a murder at a wedding! It's the ancient seat of the Clan MacDougall and was even conquered by Robert the Bruce in the 1300s. The dungeon held a famous prisoner during the Jacobite uprising of the 1700s as well - so much history here! There's a gift shop at the entrance, bathrooms, and even a lovely beach a short walk outside the castle walls through a lovely stone arch. Entrance is £7 but I had an Explorer Pass which ended up being a great investment! The staff were fantastic - welcoming and enthusiastic about their history as all the Scottish folk I encountered had been (just truly lovely people!!!) Getting inside of both castle ruins and the gatehouse does require climbing some fairly narrow stone stairs and there isn't any handicap access that I saw so be aware. So, PRO TIP: Get the Explorer Pass - it was £35 and gets you into every Historic Scotland property including this one (as well as Edinburgh Castle, Iona Abbey, and many many more) and is good for 7 days. Highly recommend if you're visiting numerous sites. And if you want to learn more about this castle's haunted history, I made a YouTube video: https://youtu.be/xd6zzzOCFdo

Just right outside of Oban on the route to Fort William is this castle which seems strangely out of…read moreplace. It's a bit back from water but who am I to judge what looks odd now compared to when they built it. It just rises out of the ground on a mound of rock and you can walk through it. The steps are a bit narrow (guess they had smaller feet back then) but it's worth it to go inside and wander around. I could just see myself pouring boiling oil over the top onto the invaders :) It's 6 pounds for adults to get in and there is a small gift shop with all sorts of fun things to buy like haggis flavored crisps! Also on the grounds is the ruins of a small chapel which is nice to visit too. There are signs throughout the chapel and castle which give you information and history about Dunstaffnage. Very cool!

This castle tour takes about 2 hours and is filled with information about the long and colorful…read morehistory of it's life. It is privately owned and the owner has a tremendous knowledge of the history of the castle. It was a ruin that was rebuilt by his family.

Cooler castle than I was expecting with lots of rooms to explore and a great view at the top. Only…read moreunexpected downside was how much worship of the MacLeans you had to wade through on the inside. The unexpected upsides outweighed that with a very nice tea room (the Victorian sponge cake was genuinely amazing) and a much-better-than-expected coastal walk around the castle with both impressive views of the castle itself and the surrounding area. We came here as a way to entertain the kids during a drive through the mountains parts of Mull for us to take in the amazing Scottish scenery. We had low expectations, but were really pleasantly surprised. The castle tour was both informative and had some really impressive rooms to enjoy. We wish we had more time to read everything, but small kids (4 and 7) give you limited time to stay put and read. My wife did wind up buying books about Mary Queen of Scots to learn more after we left though. The top of the castle had really impressive views, but the walls were high enough that I had tp lift both of the kids up to see. The views from one of the rooms in the castle looking out over the bay were really impressive though without needing to lift anyone up. After exploring the castle, we went to the tea room, where the kids got hot chocolate while we had espresso and Victorian sponge cake. The Victorian sponge cake is among the best desserts we've had on our trip in Scotland and we've been looking for more of it ever since we had it. The we took a long, nice walk down toward the water and around the castle with great views and some pretty cool stretches of walking through weird fern forests that were tall enough to even block my views at times.

Clan MacLean is part of my family tree, and visiting the ancestral castle was a magical experience…read more I was deeply moved by the castle's commitment to preserving and teaching about the clan history, but also by the clear efforts to provide outreach and a central meeting point to the wider MacLean family around the world. Displays throughout the castle and grounds were educational, interesting, and connected historical events to living generations. Meeting Sir Lachlan, the current chief of the castle, was a highlight; he was so generous with his time and so funny! His dedication to creating a meaningful connection to ancestry was evident and moving. We heard from another couple who had been on their way to the castle on foot, and a car had pulled over and offered them a ride, and it was Sir Lachlan on his way back from running an errand in town. If you're part Maclean, and visiting Duart to connect with this part of your heritage--yes, do it, highly encouraged; I also have to recommend staying at the lovely Pennygate Lodge in Craignure when you do. I met a distant relation who was also staying at Pennygate to finally see the family castle, we had a lovely chat, and I felt like part of a century-long goal to create a massive family-reunion had come true! You're also missing out if you don't get a pint at the Craignure Inn, and ask the locals if they have any stories to share about the castle or Sir Lachlan. Hilarious castle stories at the local pub was the perfect way to end a magnificent trip.

Did a bit of a sightseeing drive that day and decided to stop by this Church. We've been in the…read morearea a few times before, but never visited this place. It's beautifully located at the Loch, right beside the A85. It was a busy day, but we managed to get a parking spot right by the church. There's street parking as well, but with the traffic going on it's good to have a chance to park on the offical (small) lot. It was built in 1881-6; and substantially extended from 1906 to 1914. Designed by the architect Walter Douglas Campbell. There are three chapels inside. One for me was especially interesting: The Bruce Chapel contains a carved wood and alabaster effigy of Robert the Bruce. We did spend more time than we've actually planned. It was just a very stunning place to take in. The architecture with all its detail, the couryard, the park, the views. It's a really amazing and impressive church. Even though well visited, I was still baffled that it isn't even more famous. Not that I did mind...overflowing with visitors it might be less impressive. But I just mean it does deserve a bit more spotlight. Donations are welcome, since there's no entrance fee. Dogs on leash are welcome outside on the grounds. There's also a little Café right next to - with toilets. Surely a beautiful place to visit when in the area.

This beautiful church is open to the public for no charge. Toss them a donation on the way out if…read moreyou like.

Newark Castle is very well preserved and stewards are always very welcoming and helpful. The…read morehistory is told in the upstairs gallery and it is a very interesting history indeed. One of the bedrooms has original wood panelling bed recesses which show grafitti of the time carved into them. It's quite shocking and sad that graffiti of this time can be found daubed on the outside castle walls! Inside the castle scottish music is played in the grand hall which gives a sense of what it was like at the time. The castle is reputed to be haunted - ask at the gift shop and I'm sure the steward will tell you the whole story as well as show you some seriously spooky pictures!

I agree with the previous reviewer wholeheartedly. Ross Priory is one of the most overlooked…read morebuildings in Scotland. It is absolutely incredible. A must for visitors to Glasgow. Even the drink prices at the bar are reasonable. The only problem is, the priory is not anywhere near a train station. So you bring your car or get a train to Balloch then a taxi.

Beautiful architecture, a perfect setting, and several guest rooms make this a sublime wedding…read morevenue on Loch Lomond.

These spectacular Italianate buildings (splendid both inside and out) were finished in 1886 and the…read morebeautiful Victoria Tower (75m in height) can be seen dominating the skyline from many parts of the town. Unfortunately, the Municipal Buildings remain uncompleted to this day as a local man, Robert Cowan, refused to sell his business in front of the tower. As a result, the shop was inserted into one corner but was destroyed during a bombing raid in 1941, leaving the unusual effect still seen today. The bricks are different to the rest and this area has become known as 'Cowan's Corner'. These days the Municipal Buildings include the Town Hall and various Council offices. There are a few parking spaces nearby but it's very difficult to find a space. However, there is a large public car park only about 5 minutes walk away.

So not one for a rainy day, so we decided to go yep on a rainy day, however, it did have its…read moreupsides. Once again we traveled on the long and winding single track road to get here but the castle which is now a b&b (we didn't go inside) has a lot more too it that you think. We had a little trip to see the standing stones, about a 1 mile walk through fields and uneven paths take you to this very old stones, however we didn't get too close as they were being guarded by the highland cows, we then headed up to the castle it's self which stood high up overlooking the land with some stunning views. Once we had done the castle we headed over to the coffee shop and gift shop, we were recommended the soup to which we had and now I must say it was one of the BEST tasting soups I have ever had and the chocolate based dessert was delicious too, well worth a trip especially if it's raining. There is a selection of local produce to buy as well as some gift based items as well. Defo worth a visit for the whole family but best done on a sunny day.

Booked the castle for a March 2020 visit, however COVID closed down UK, so we could not visit. Had…read moreto cancel the visit, but got an email that said "I confirm I have cancelled your reservation, we are offering to carry deposits forward to a booking in the future." Tried to book a stay using my deposit, but got "I am afraid I cannot carry forward your deposit as too long has lapsed now." Well, guess I will not be visiting. Seems shortsighted to not credit me for money I spent, since I would have spent a good deal more, but I guess business is good so no need to honor what you say.