Scotland's Castles and Historic Houses

The oldest continually inhabited house or castle in Scotland, Traquair is also one of the most romantic. Prince Charles Edward Stuart stayed here in 1745 and the gates remain closed until a Stuart returns to the throne.

Mary Queen of Scots stayed for some weeks in Jedburgh in 1566. The house in which she stayed is now an internationally famous museum.

A great ruin, but so much of this Palace of Scottish Kings and Queens still stands that you can really get a feel for life in a great Scottish Chateau.

Hermitage Castle is one of the most impressive Scottish Castles. Gaunt and forbidding, it was where James Bothwell future husband of Mary Queen of Scots lay wounded after a local battle. Mary rode out from Jedburgh to visit him.

Near the end ofthe 1700's Robert Adam transformed an ancient rambling tower house into romantic Culzean Castle, on a cliff edge overlooking the sea in South West Scotland. U.S. President Eisenhower was given the top apartment in 1945.

Castle Urquhart stands on a promontory on Loch Ness in Scotland's Great Glen. This is a history of this strife torn castle, one of Scotland's largest and most important.

This is the monogram of Francis Stuart who built magnificent Renaissance additions to the medieval Castle of Crichton which overlooks the river Tyne just South of Edinburgh. This castle was used in the filming of "Rob Roy".

Strome Castle, built by the Rosses, owned by MacDonalds and attacked by McKenzies. A sea-loch fortress on the West Coast near Lochcarron.

The castle is on an island in the middle of the River Dee; even getting to it is an exciting and romantic experience.

Carving of a stag and holly bush. The emblem of the Earl of Nithsdale above the entrance to one of the most evocative castles in Scotland...