10 Tips for Visiting Famous Scottish Castles Like a History Pro

25.09.2024 - 14:41 / matadornetwork.com

Exploring the historic castles of Scotland is more than a popular tourist activity. It’s a way to learn about the country’s history, one steeped in fascinated legend and lore. These ancient fortresses, scattered across the dramatic Scottish landscape, are one of the best ways to explore tales of feuding clans, royal intrigue, and battles for power — all of which echo through stone walls and misty valleys even today, thanks to the dedicated efforts of preservationists and historians. Visiting Scottish castles is not just about ticking off tourist attractions, but about engaging with the stories and dramas that shaped the country.

Scotland is home to anywhere between 1,500 and 3,000 castles, depending on who you ask. In fact, here are so many that quite a large number are privately owned, run as hotels or luxury home rentals.

Glamis Castle,  childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Visit Scotland

It’s an impressive number, considering the size of the country, and reflects Scotland’s turbulent and conflict-filled history. Between the 11th and 18th centuries, the country was often embroiled in wars, including battles with England and internal clan disputes. Many of the now-famous Scottish castles served as defensive strongholds designed to protect the land and assert dominance over would-be invaders. The rugged and often inaccessible terrain of Scotland also meant that many regions developed independently, leading to a proliferation of castles across the landscape as local lords and chieftains sought to secure their own territories.

Today, castles are deeply woven into the national identity, symbolizing Scotland’s resilience, independence, and rich history. So if you’re planning a trip to Scotland, you’ll likely want to visit at least one or two famous Scottish castles. But castles are big, and if you’ve never visited one, you may not know exactly what to expect, where to go, or how much time spend there. To help make it a little easier to add a few famous Scottish castles to your Scotland slow travel itinerary, Matador Network got the scoop on how a true professional recommends visiting castles, and how you can make the most of your future visit. We asked Ross Blevins, Interpretative Events and Guiding Manager at Stirling Castle, for his insider knowledge.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Stirling Castle. Photo: Visit Scotland

Ross Blevins: Visiting castles and other heritage attractions is a hugely popular pastime. Stirling Castle receives over 500,000 visitors each year and is in our top three most-visited sites annually, with its rich history at the heart of Scotland’s story.

The castle guided tours are well received by castle visitors and are important in helping to enhance