The Castle Guide – a selection of castles from around the UK
There are now over 1100 Scottish castles in this guide, over 300 Welsh castles, all sorted alphabetically. Please use the search box below to select a castle name, country, a clan or family name, or a town to see what’s within a few miles. Just type in your search term, select what you are searching by, and away you go!
Biddlestone Hall Tower, a 14th century tower house, has been much altered and now forms part of Biddlestone Hall chapel
- Closest To: Biddlestone, Alwinton, Sharperton, Netherton
- Access: Occasional Access
- Grid Reference: NT95530831
Biel House, a private occupied mansion, is built around a ?C15/16 tower house of the Dunbars
- Closest To: East Linton, Dunbar
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NT633758
Biggar Castle, earthworks of substantial C12 castle of Flemings abandoned C14; now occupied by private residence
- Closest To: Biggar
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NT039377
Bilton Swan Hill is a curious ditched mound 1.5 metres high the ditch being surprisingly large at 15 metres wide for the small size of the mound which is only 20 metres in diameter at the base. It sits to the south of the church whilst the moat of the medieval manor can be seen to the east of it.
- Closest To: England
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: TA157326
Birdoswald Tower was a small tower house erected within the walls of the old roman fort alongside the west gate. It was replaced with a bastle house, and this in time by the farmhouse with 19th century tower.
- Closest To: Gilsland
- Access: Chargeable Public Access
- Grid Reference: NY61486625
Birkhill House, occupied C18 castellated mansion extended C19 on site of C16 castle of Leslies. Available to let
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NO336234
Birkshaw Moatland, large rectangular ditched motte & upcast bank on rise in marsh, ?built by Dennistouns or Cunninghams
- Closest To: Dunscore
- Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
- Grid Reference: NX864856
Birse Castle, privately occupied short-lived C17 tower of the Gordons restored and extended early C20 with large wing
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NO520905
Birtley Castle, the scant remains of this largelky unknown site are built into a private garden wall
- Closest To: Wark, Redesmouth
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NY87747787
Bishops Auckland Castle was the official residence of the Bishop of Durham until 2012, and is built around a strongly defended manor with great hall and other state rooms. It is the subject of ongoing archaeology and is open as a tourist attraction.
- Closest To: Bishop Auckland
- Access: Chargeable Public Access
- Grid Reference: NZ212302
Bishop Middleham Castle was a strongly defended manor of the Bishops of Durham on a prominent ridge. Turf covered footings and some masonry survive in a field which show on LIDAR but are incomprehensible.
- Closest To: Bishop Middleham, Cornforth, Ferryhill, Chilton, Sedgefield, Fishburn, Trimdon, Coxhoe
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NZ327310
Bishop Rufus Palace Northallerton
Bishop Rufus Palace Northallerton is a substantial motte and bailey castle now much eroded and the bailey is now occupied by the cemetery. The castle was replaced by a substantial palace complex believed to have been on this site.
- Closest To: England
- Access: Occasional Access
- Grid Reference: SE364939
Bishop Wilton Hall Garth is a substantial moated site which survives as a series of earthworks within an agricultural field. It was once the site of an unenclosed palace belonging to the Archibishops of York.
- Closest To: England
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: SE799553
Bishop's Moat, e/w of small motte & bailey also known as Castlewright (& variants) & Hithoet
- Closest To: Bishop's Castle, Churchstoke, Montgomery
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: SO291896
The Bishops Palace, Kirkwall, a large ruined ?C12 hall extended C16 with drum tower giving appearance of tower house.
- Closest To: Kirkwall
- Access: Chargeable Public Access
- Grid Reference: HY449108
Bishopton Castle Hill is a motte with two subdivided baileys and other earthworks on agricultural land south of the village. There is no access, but the farmer has cleared an area of fence to permit a view from the road.
- Closest To: Bishopton, Stillington, Redmarshall, Sadberge, Stockton-on-Tees
- Access: Occasional Access
- Grid Reference: NZ367209
Bishopton Old Castle, e/w of ringwork & bailey on the edge of a ravine occupied C12-13
- Closest To: Bishopston, Mumbles, Swansea
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: SS582900
Bishton Castle, quadrangular platform overlooking river with ?footings or e/w of inner enclosure
- Closest To: Bishton
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: ST392881
Blackcraig Castle, C19 occupied mansion with tower to the rear alleged to date from Maxwells in C16. Tower available for let.
- Closest To: Bridge of Cally
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NO108534
Blacket House, ruins of a C16/17 tower house of the Bells within gated gardens of house of the same name
- Closest To: Eaglesfield, Ecclefechan, Kirtlebridge
- Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
- Grid Reference: NY243743
Blackhouse Tower, obscure ruined C16 tower of the Stewarts, probably abandoned by C18
- Closest To: Yarrow, Ettrick
- Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
- Grid Reference: NT281273
Blackness Castle, a C15 tower and courtyard of the Crichtons, later altered by the Crown. In use until 2nd World War.
- Closest To: Bo'Ness, Linlithgow, South Queensferry, Kirkliston, Broxburn
- Access: Chargeable Public Access
- Grid Reference: NT055803
Blaenllynfi Castle, ruins of large C13 castle of the fitzHerberts and Braoses ruined by C14
- Closest To: Bwlch
- Access: Free Public Access
- Grid Reference: SO144229
Blaenporth Castle, earthworks of small motte and bailey castle with possible footings
- Closest To: Blaenporth
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: SN265489
Blagill Farm Bastle is part of a complex of steading buildings. The old farmhouse seems to be used for storage now, and may include remnants of a bastle and a tower, another bastle is also listed as being onsite..
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NY739474