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!

Barmoor Castle

Barmoor Castle, the part-restored ruins of an old tower house modified in the 18th century

Closest To: Lowick, Haggerston, Doddington, Ford
Access: Occasional Access

Grid Reference: NT99723988

Barmston Old Hall

Barmston Old Hall is a post-medieval manor house and farm erected within a substantial complex of earthworks of an earlier phase.

Closest To: England
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: TA156588

Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle is an impressive multi-warded castle starting as a ringwork and bailey, continually upgraded and extended to the mid 15th century, after which it declined. It is open to the public as a tourist attraction.

Closest To: Barnard Castle
Access: Chargeable Public Access

Grid Reference: NZ049164

Barnbougle Castle

Barnbougle Castle, privately occupied and much altered C17 tower house of the Mowbrays and Hamiltons

Closest To: Queensferry, Cramond
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: NT169785

Barncluith Castle

Barncluith Castle, privately occupied C16 tower house of the Hamiltons; fell into disrepair mid C19 and restored C20

Closest To: Hamilton
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: NS730545

Barnes Castle

Barnes Castle, unusual C16 courtyard castle of rectangular plan started by the Setons and never completed

Closest To: East Linton,Dirleton,Gullane,Aberlady,Longniddry,Haddington
Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access

Grid Reference: NT529766

Barnhills Castle

Barnhills Castle, well-hidden ruins of C16 tower of the Turnbulls in woods overlooking Teviotdale

Closest To: Ancrum, Denholm
Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access

Grid Reference: NT589211

Barns Tower

Barns Tower, restored C16 tower of modest size built by the Burnets, available for let

Closest To: Peebles
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: NT215391

Barony Castle

Barony Castle, occupied C16 tower house of the Murrays much extended C17-18 and now run as a hotel

Closest To: Eddleston, Peebles
Access: Free Public Access

Grid Reference: NT236473

Barr Castle Ayrshire

Barr Castle, Ayrshire, private but unoccupied C15 tower of the Lockharts abandoned C17, open by appointment

Closest To: Galston, Newmilns, Darvel, Kilmarnock
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: NS502364

Barr Castle Renfrewshire

Barr Castle, ruined C15 tower built and altered C16 by the Glen family, later occupied by Hamiltons from C17 to C18

Closest To: Lochwinnoch, Kilbirnie
Access: Free Public Access

Grid Reference: NS347582

Barra Castle

Barra Castle, privately occupied and much extended C15 tower of the Blackhalls and Setons now run as a venue

Closest To: Oldmeldrum, Inverurie
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: NJ792258

Barras Castle

Barras Castle, ruins of ?late C17 tower house probably built by the Ogilvies and abandoned by mid C19

Closest To: Stonehaven
Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access

Grid Reference: NO856804

Barrow Peel

Barrow Peel, the eathworks of a strong manorial complex survive next to an abandoned farmhouse

Closest To: Alswinton, Harbottle
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: NT91160610

Barry Castle

Barry Castle, ruins of fortified manor ?on site of earlier earth and timber castle and homestead

Closest To: Barry
Access: Free Public Access

Grid Reference: ST101672

Barscobe Castle

Barscobe Castle, occupied C16 tower house of the MacLellans; sold repeatedly C18 onwards and restored C20. Available to let

Closest To: St Johns Town of Dalry, New Galloway
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: NX660806

Barwick in Elmet Hall Tower Hill

Barwick in Elmet Hall Tower Hill is a substantial ditched motte within open ground maintained as a public space by the parish council. It sits within the ramparts of an iron Age fort part of which has been isolated by the creation of a substantial bank.

Closest To: England
Access: Free Public Access

Grid Reference: SE399377

Bass Castle

Bass Castle, remains of C16 -C18 artillery fort on site of earlier castle on the Bass Rock dating to at least 1405

Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access

Grid Reference: NT602873

Bass of Inverurie

Bass of Inverurie, C12 earthwork castle of Earl David of Garioch & Huntingdon in use until early C14 altered by later landscaping

Closest To: Inverurie
Access: Free Public Access

Grid Reference: NJ781206

Bathgate Castle

Bathgate Castle, earthworks of short lived castle of the Stewarts now part of a golf course

Closest To: Bathgate
Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access

Grid Reference: NS981680

Bavelaw Castle

Bavelaw Castle, privately occupied C16 tower house of the Dundases extended C17. Abandoned and restored C20

Closest To: Balerno, Currie, Penicuik
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: NT167628

Baynard Castle Cottingham

Baynard Castle Cottingham survives as a rectangular wet moat within substantial private gardens and is not accessible to the public despite being in the centre of the town. Traces of a second Outer Ward cannot now be traced beneath housing.

Closest To: England
Access: No Access

Grid Reference: TA041329

Bearpark Priors House

Bearpark Priors House is a large ruined palace erected for the Priors of Durham around a central aisled hall. It seems to be open to the public but not signposted, and is surrounded by farmland.

Closest To: Bearpark, Durham
Access: Free Public Access