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!


To use the interactive map search, click here

Alston Hall Hill

Alstan Hall Hill is the site of an old fortified site of unknown type overlooking the South Tyne, consisting today of two sides of a quadrangular ditch and bank about a raised platform. It is likely that over half the site has been destroyed by landslip from river erosion.

  • Closest To: Alston
  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: NY715467

Altyre Castle

Altyre Castle, C13 motte of the Comyns abandoned C15, adjacent to ruined C12/13 chapel; ?site of later tower house

  • Closest To: Forres
  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NJ035553

Amhuinnsuidhe Castle

Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, occupied C19 D Bryce mansion built for the Murray Earl of Dunmore, now run as a hotel

  • Access: Free Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NB050078

Amisfield Tower

Amisfield Tower, occupied C16 tower of the Charteris family extended in flamboyant style C17

  • Closest To: Dumfries
  • Access: Occasional Access
  • Grid Reference: NX992838

Angle Castle

Angle Castle is a ruined hall-house, serving as manorial site but no evidence of other defences

  • Closest To: Angle
  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: SM866030

Annan Castle

Annan Castle, remains of a C12 earthwork castle of the Bruce Lords of Annandale eroded by river and destroyed by the C16

  • Closest To: Annan
  • Access: Free Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NY192668

Appleby Castle

Appleby Castle started as a motte and bailey but was refortified in stone in the 12th century. An extensive house was constructed in the bailey which was repeatedly remodelled. It was occasionally open to the public, but was put up for sale in 2024.

  • Closest To: Appleby-in-Westmorland
  • Access: Occasional Access
  • Grid Reference: NY685199

Applegarth Motte

Applegarth, motte on riverside site adjacent to working farm which occupies a possible bailey site

  • Closest To: Applegarthtown,Lochmaben,Lockerbie
  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NY104841

Arbuthnott House

Arbuthnott House, remnants of C16 tower of Arbuthnotts built into much extended mansion; open to the public occasionally

  • Closest To: Inverbervie,Arbuthnott
  • Access: Occasional Access
  • Grid Reference: NO795751

Archdeacon Newton Manor

Archdeacon Newton Moated Site is the location of an extensive manorial complex of the Archdeacon of Durham, which was defended by a moat and contained masonry buildings. The site is now occupied by farm buildings, the Old Hall may survive as a barn.

  • Closest To: Darlington
  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: NZ254171

Ardblair Castle

Ardblair Castle, a privately occupied tower house and courtyard of the Blairs dating to the 16th century

  • Closest To: Blairgowrie
  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: NO163445

Ardclach Bell Tower

Ardclach Bell Tower, a small defensive C17 belfry on a hilltop for calling people to church or an alarm about raiders

  • Closest To: Nairn, Forres, Ferness
  • Access: Free Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NH953453

Ardencaple

Ardencaple, ?site of C12 castle; site of C16 tower of the MacAuleys rebuilt C18 into mansion, largely demolished

  • Closest To: Helensburgh
  • Access: Free Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NS282830

Ardfad Castle

Ardfad Castle, ruins of C16/17 tower of the MacDougalls of Ardencaple, probably abandoned C18

  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NM769195

Ardgowan Castle

Ardgowan Castle, unoccupied and private C15 tower of the Stewarts abandoned C18 in favour opf new mansion; restored C19

  • Closest To: Inverkip, Wemyss Bay, Gourock
  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NS205728

Ardmaddy Castle

Ardmaddy Castle, privately occupied C18 mansion incorporating parts of a C15 castle of the MacDougalls rebuilt by the Campbells C16

  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: NM786164

Ardmillan Castle

Ardmillan Castle, site of C16 tower house of the Kennedies extended C17-18; burned down C20 and demolished. Grounds now a caravan park

  • Closest To: Girvan
  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NX170945

Ardross Castle Alness

Ardross Castle, Highland, occupied C19 baronial mansion by Ross for the Mathesons, run as a conference and wedding venue

  • Closest To: Ardross, Alness, Evanton, Invergordon
  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: NH611741

Ardross Castle Fife

Ardross Castle Fife, ruins of C14 castle of the Dishingtons, probably abandoned C17 after sale to the Scotts

  • Closest To: Elie
  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NO508007

Ardrossan Castle

Ardrossan Castle, ruins of C15 castle of the Montgomeries demolished C17 on the site of an earlier castle; considered dangerous

  • Closest To: Ardrossan,Saltcoats,Stevenston,West Kilbride,Irvine,Kilwinning
  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: NS232423

Ardstinchar Castle

Ardstinchar Castle, ruins of C16 tower and courtyard of the Kennedies, abandoned by Hamiltons C18 and used as a quarry

  • Closest To: Ballantrae
  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NX087824

Ardtornish Castle

Ardtornish Castle, scant ruins of C13 hall and outbuildings of the Macdonalds and MacLeans, abandoned by C17

  • Closest To: Lochaline
  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NM692427

Ardvorlich House

Ardvorlich House, ?site of tower of the Stewarts from C16, site now occupied by late C18 mansion extended C19

  • Closest To: St Fillans, Lochearnhead
  • Access: No Access
  • Grid Reference: NN631230

Ardvreck Castle

Ardvreck Castle, a ruined C16 MacLeod tower house on Loch Assynt destroyed in C18. Danger of falling masonry.

  • Closest To: Inchnadamph,Assynt,Lochinver
  • Access: Free Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NC239236

Ardwell Mote

Ardwell Mote, large ditched motte on coastal cliff site near estuary with fragmentary bank suggesting bailey

  • Closest To: Ardwell, Sandhead
  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NX107455