11 of the best castles in Scotland for families
· Updated
Scotland has more than 1,000 castles, and the ones that make the best family day out are the ones with something to do at the end of the drive: a gun that fires, a hall you can walk into, a clifftop that stops children in their tracks. This is our pick of 11, from the fortress on Edinburgh's Castle Rock to the island castle on Loch Duich, with what each one is actually like to visit.
Most of the big names sit with one of two custodians. Historic Environment Scotland runs Edinburgh, Stirling, Urquhart and Doune, and the National Trust for Scotland runs Craigievar and Culzean. The rest are privately owned or royal. If you plan to visit several Historic Environment Scotland sites on one trip, a Historic Scotland Explorer Pass covers entry across a set number of days and usually works out cheaper than paying at each gate.
This guide is part of our wider look at camping near Britain's castles, and it comes from Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping across the country. Turn a castle into a weekend and you have a proper family adventure.
The 11 castles at a glance
Here is the shortlist, who runs each one, and the standout reason to go.
| Castle | Where | Custodian | Go for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Castle | Edinburgh | Historic Environment Scotland | Crown Jewels and the One O'Clock Gun |
| Stirling Castle | Stirling | Historic Environment Scotland | Renaissance palace, costumed guides |
| Eilean Donan | Dornie, Highlands | Conchra Charitable Trust | Iconic island castle on Loch Duich |
| Urquhart Castle | Loch Ness, Highlands | Historic Environment Scotland | Lochside ruin and monster spotting |
| Dunnottar Castle | Stonehaven | Dunecht Estates | Dramatic clifftop ruin |
| Doune Castle | Doune | Historic Environment Scotland | Outlander and Monty Python filming |
| Craigievar Castle | Aberdeenshire | National Trust for Scotland | Pink fairytale tower |
| Culzean Castle | Ayrshire | National Trust for Scotland | Clifftop mansion and country park |
| Blair Castle | Highland Perthshire | Blair Charitable Trust | Britain's last private army |
| Glamis Castle | Angus | Privately owned | Childhood home of the Queen Mother |
| Balmoral | Royal Deeside | The Royal Family | The royal Highland estate |
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle sits on Castle Rock, an extinct volcano above the city, and it is the busiest paid attraction in Scotland for good reason. Inside you can see the Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in Britain, and the Stone of Destiny, on which Scottish kings were once crowned.
The daily highlight for children is the One O'Clock Gun, fired at exactly 1pm every day except Sunday, Good Friday and Christmas Day. It is run by Historic Environment Scotland, it gets very busy in summer, and booking a timed ticket in advance saves a long queue. The location means you can pair it with the rest of the Old Town in a single day.
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle was the key to Scotland, the fortress that controlled the crossing between the Lowlands and the Highlands, and whoever held it held the country. Its Renaissance palace has been restored to how it looked in the 1540s, with bright painted ceilings and costumed guides who talk to children in character.
From the ramparts you can see the Wallace Monument and the field of Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce beat the English in 1314. That makes Stirling one of the best places in Scotland to bring the Wars of Independence to life for a family.
Eilean Donan
Eilean Donan is the castle from the postcards, set on its own small island where three sea lochs meet at Loch Duich in the Highlands. A stone bridge takes you across to a fortress rebuilt in the early 20th century after it was destroyed during a Jacobite rising in 1719.
Inside you can walk the rooms and climb to the ramparts, and the setting alone is worth the stop. It sits on the main road to Skye, so it works well as a break on a longer Highland trip.
Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle is a ruin on the banks of Loch Ness, run by Historic Environment Scotland, and it holds one of the finest views on the whole loch. Climb the Grant Tower and you look straight out over the water where people have claimed to see the monster for centuries.
There is a visitor centre with a film and a working replica of a medieval siege engine, the trebuchet, in the grounds. It pairs naturally with a boat trip on Loch Ness for a full family day.
Dunnottar Castle
Dunnottar Castle is a dramatic clifftop ruin on a rock nearly surrounded by the North Sea, a short drive south of Stonehaven. The approach is the memorable part: a steep path down and back up to a headland that feels cut off from the mainland.
The Honours of Scotland were hidden here in the 1650s to keep them from Oliver Cromwell's army, which adds a good story to the walk. Sturdy shoes and a bit of energy are needed, so it suits families with children who are steady on their feet.
Doune Castle
Doune Castle is a well-preserved medieval stronghold near Stirling, and film fans will know it instantly. It stood in for Castle Leoch in Outlander, appeared in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and was used as Winterfell in the Game of Thrones pilot.
The audio guide leans into all of it, narrated in part by Monty Python's Terry Jones, which keeps older children entertained. The great hall is one of the best-preserved in Scotland, and Historic Environment Scotland runs the site.
Craigievar Castle
Craigievar Castle is the pink fairytale tower of Aberdeenshire, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, and it is often said to have inspired the Disney castle silhouette. Its turrets and corbels rise from a single seven-storey tower finished in 1626.
The interior is small and best seen on a guided tour, so check opening arrangements before you travel, as access can be limited at quieter times of year. The grounds and woodland walks are open more widely and are a fine spot for a picnic.
Culzean Castle
Culzean Castle is a clifftop mansion on the Ayrshire coast, designed by the architect Robert Adam in the 18th century and now run by the National Trust for Scotland. The oval staircase inside is one of Adam's finest rooms, but for families the real draw is outside.
The estate is a country park of around 260 hectares with woodland, a swan pond, a deer park, beaches and adventure play. You can easily spend a whole day here without setting foot in the house.
Blair Castle
Blair Castle is a white-walled castle in Highland Perthshire and the home of Britain's last remaining private army, the Atholl Highlanders. The Duke of Atholl is the only person in the country permitted to keep a private army, a right granted by Queen Victoria.
The castle has more than 30 rooms open to visitors, from an armoury to a Georgian ballroom, and the grounds include a walled garden and deer park. It is an easy stop off the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle in Angus was the childhood home of the Queen Mother and the birthplace of Princess Margaret, the first royal born in Scotland for more than 300 years at the time. It is also the legendary setting of Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Guided tours take in the grand rooms and the family's royal connections, and the grounds have nature trails and a play area for younger visitors. The Italian garden and pinetum are worth a wander if the weather holds.
Balmoral
Balmoral is the royal Highland estate on Deeside, bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852 and still a private home of the Royal Family. Because it is a working home, opening is seasonal and usually limited to spring and early summer, so always check dates before you plan a visit.
When it is open you can see the ballroom, the gardens and the wider estate, with trails through the Cairngorms on the doorstep. It is a quieter, more scenic day out than the big city castles.
Making a trip of it
The Highlands hold two of the best on this list, Eilean Donan and Urquhart, and they make a natural pairing with a night or two under canvas. Browse campsites in the Scottish Highlands to base yourself near Loch Ness or the road to Skye, or start from the full CSIB directory to find a site near any castle on this page.
Scotland is far from the only part of Britain with castles worth the drive. If your route takes you south, see our guides to Cumbria's best castles for a Lake District camping trip, the must-see castles of Northumberland, and Wales's majestic castles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best castle in Scotland for families?
Stirling Castle is the strongest all-round family day out, with a restored Renaissance palace, costumed guides who talk to children, and battlefield history you can see from the walls. Edinburgh Castle is a close second for the One O'Clock Gun and the crown jewels.
Which Scottish castle is on an island?
Eilean Donan sits on a small island where three sea lochs meet at Loch Duich in the western Highlands. A stone bridge connects it to the shore, and it is one of the most photographed castles in the world.
Is there a pass that covers Scottish castles?
Yes. The Historic Scotland Explorer Pass covers entry to castles run by Historic Environment Scotland, including Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart, across a set number of days. National Trust for Scotland sites such as Culzean and Craigievar are covered by a separate Trust membership.
Which Scottish castle was used in Outlander?
Doune Castle near Stirling stood in for Castle Leoch in Outlander. The same castle appears in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and was used as Winterfell in the Game of Thrones pilot.
Can you visit Balmoral Castle?
Balmoral opens to visitors on a seasonal basis, usually in spring and early summer, because it is a working home of the Royal Family. Opening dates change each year, so check before you travel.
Which Scottish castle inspired Disney?
Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire, the pink seven-storey tower run by the National Trust for Scotland, is widely said to have inspired the fairytale castle silhouette. Its turrets and pale pink walls give it a storybook look.
The short version
Scotland's castles range from city fortresses to clifftop ruins and island keeps, and the best family days out are the ones with something to see and do when you arrive. Pick a couple, base yourself at a nearby campsite, and make a weekend of it. Start with camping near Britain's castles or head straight to the CSIB directory.
