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!
Almond Castle, ruined C15 tower of the Crawfords extended by Livingstones C16, Forfeited and abandoned C18
- Closest To: Bo'Ness, Linlithgow, Whitecross, Grangemouth, Maddiston, Polmont, Falkirk
- Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
- Grid Reference: NS956773
Almondbury Castle Hill was a substantial stone castle of three courtyards repurposing an old hillfort accessed via public footpaths.
- Closest To: England
- Access: Free Public Access
- Grid Reference: SE153141
Alnham Earls Pele, the ruins of a tower house forming a rectangular platform on top of a prominent hill
- Closest To: Alnham, Whittingham
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NT99181081
Alnham Vicars Pele, an occupied and much extended tower house adjacent to the church
- Closest To: Alnham, Whittingham
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NT99031098
Alnwick Castle, an impressive castle still occupied by the duke of Northumberland but open as an attraction
- Closest To: Alnwick
- Access: Chargeable Public Access
- Grid Reference: NU187136
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, 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, 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, occupied C16 tower of the Charteris family extended in flamboyant style C17
- Closest To: Dumfries
- Access: Occasional Access
- Grid Reference: NX992838
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, 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 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 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, 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 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, 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, 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, ?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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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