9 Beautiful Castles in Glasgow

Posted by Maris on 18th Mar 2024

9 Beautiful Castles in Glasgow

When on vacation, the castles in Glasgow are definitely worth seeing. A short trip from Glasgow allows visitors to easily visit some of the nation's other castles, like Edinburgh and Stirling, which are accessible by a first-rate road and public transportation network.


Visit these nine stunning castles in Glasgow and surrounding areas to witness soul-stirring ruins, fabled mansions, and mythical citadels, in between sipping Scotland's amber-hued libations and contemplating masterpieces at modern art galleries.

Stirling Castle

Thirty miles northeast of Glasgow, Stirling Castle served as the venue for the coronation of the youthful Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1543.

The striking medieval castle of Stirling is impossible to miss; it is situated next to the well-known Stirling Old Bridge and the Serpentine River Forth, perched on a precipitous ledge atop a green-covered rock formation.

You should plan to spend the entire day touring the grounds and this intriguing site. Start by admiring the outdoor statue of Robert the Bruce, then make your way through the main gate and toward the inner walls—which have withstood several sieges. Take a seat close to the black guns that are visible through the battlements of the outer wall.

Mary was just one of the former royal residents of Stirling Castle, one of the best castles in all of Scotland. James IV, who was born here in 1473, was in charge of building the castle's spectacular Great Hall, which was formerly the site of opulent feasts and harlequin dances.

One of the main attractions of the castle is the opulent Royal Palace, which is decorated to look as though it was built in the 1500s and where Mary spent a lot of her early years. Explore the regal apartments, adorned with elaborate tapestries.

In addition, there is the magnificent Chapel Royal, which is situated close to the Queen Anne Gardens, the Regimental Museum, and the Great Hall.

Nine bones from the 1200s to the 1400s were found in 2008 inside a long-forgotten royal church. At the castle's exhibition, two of the skeletons are on show.

Shopping is available at Stirling Castle as well, where there are gift shops selling everything from soft tartan scarves to gin and puzzles as Scottish gifts.

Blackness Castle

Approximately fifty minutes' drive from Glasgow, Blackness Castle is situated on the River Forth in West Lothian, close to the town of Linlithgow. It was constructed in the 15th century by the Crichtons, a prominent Scottish family, and later utilized as a military outpost by King James V of Scotland.

This historic garrison fortification and residence of the royal family has also served as a state jail and, more recently, a scene for a film.

Blackness Castle is known as "the ship that never sailed" because of its sharply pointed walls that protrude into the sea.

Discover the castle's remarkable past, including the gunfight wounds that are still evident from Oliver Cromwell's 1650 siege during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

You could also discover the background of well-known past inmates of Blackness, such as Cardinal David Beaton, the renowned Archbishop of St. Andrews who was also named Chancellor of Scotland in the fifteenth century.



Climb the three towers of Blackness and the curtain wall for a never-ending vista of Fife and the Firth of Forth. Looking eastward, you will be able to view the striking 1.4-mile Vermillion-red Forth Bridge, which has been spanning the estuary since 1890. Additionally, there are often guided walks available alongside Blackness Castle on the waterfront.

Explore this idyllic Scottish castle before treating yourself to a memorable lunch of haggis fritters, lobster and chips (fries), or a cocktail of crayfish, shrimp, and hot-smoked salmon at The Lobster Pot in Blackness on Sea.

Crookston Castle

Glasgow's only remaining medieval castle is called Crookston Castle. Within earthworks established centuries earlier, the famous Scottish family Stewarts of Darnley built this destroyed stronghold circa 1400

Four square corner towners with a higher central tower make up the castle's architectural design. All but the northeast tower, which is still standing, were damaged during a siege in 1489.

Ascend the tower for a view of Glasgow's surrounding verdant hills and the distant spire of Glasgow Cathedral penetrating the skyline. Built in the late 12th century, Crookston Castle is one of Glasgow's oldest structures, second only to the medieval cathedral.

One of the many wonderful things about going to Crookston Castle is that it's easy to combine your visit with other Glasgow attractions. Take a look at the Riverside Museum, constructed by Zaha Hadid, the Gallery of Modern Art, or stop by the Clydeside Distillery to try some locally sourced Scotch.

The Dundonald Castle

Among Glasgow's most exquisite castles, Dundonald is a 14th-century ruined fortification situated on a grassy hilltop in South Ayrshire, 30 miles southwest of the city center. King Robert II, the grandson of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland, lived in Dundonald Castle, which was constructed on the site of earlier fortresses.

The castle is less well-known yet being as magnificent due to its somewhat off-the-beaten-path vibe. Enter the barrel-vaulted castle and the great hall's tall, arched stone walls with the assistance of a local guide.

Just outside the castle is the Dundonald Castle Visitor Center, which houses a small museum. The display provides an impression of what this colossal structure would have looked like in its heyday and traces the castle's development from an Iron Age hill village to a princely residence.

Coins from the fourteenth to the seventeenth centuries have been found during archaeological excavations around the castle, along with stone blades, prehistoric and medieval ceramics, and other long-lost artifacts.

Explore the historic forests outside the castle. Head to the bracing Barassie Beach, where a long sweeping blond stretch of fine sand is uncovered at low tide, or walk down the Smugglers' Trail to Old Auchans Castle.

Balloch Castle

Take a trip to the southernmost point of Loch Lomond to see Balloch Castle & Country Park. The Trossachs National Park, which contains some of Glasgow's and the surrounding areas' best hiking trails, is located inside the stunning Loch Lomond.

All things considered, the current castle is much more recent than other castles in Glasgow and the surrounding area, having been constructed in the early 1800s. Nonetheless, it was erected on the location of a previous castle that dates back to the thirteenth century.

Upon assuming ownership of Balloch, John Buchanan of Ardoch, whose picture is shown in Edinburgh's National picture Gallery, ordered the demolition of the old structure to create room for a brand-new, contemporary castle.

Architect Robert Lugar, a well-known engineer of the Industrial Revolution who also created Cyfarthfa Castle in Wales, created the Tudor Gothic-style structure.

Even though the mansion is now abandoned, summer music events are frequently staged on its grounds, and every July, the Loch Lomond Highland Games are held in the surrounding village.

Loch Lomond

Admire the tranquil vistas of Loch Lomond, regarded as one of the loveliest lakes in Europe, and the magnificently landscaped grounds surrounding the castle. Situated on what was once Balloch's private estate, the park spans 200 acres and features formal gardens, a natural meadow, and woods. Glasgow is 20 miles north of the park. There's also a tree-stump Fairy Trail for families.

Explore the picturesque Walled Garden and stroll down Loch Lomond's shore to arrive in Balloch's center, where a variety of eateries, cafés, and pubs are waiting to be discovered.

Newark Castle

Situated near the city's historic shipyards, on the south bank of the Clyde River, is Port Glasgow's late-medieval Newark Castle

The west-facing gatehouse and the tall tower at the southeast corner of the castle were constructed in 1478 by Sir George Maxwell, who is credited with building the oldest portion of the current castle.

Scotland's King James IV paid the Maxwells a visit to Newark Castle in 1495, among many other distinguished visitors. Sir Patrick Maxwell, the new laird of the manor, renovated the castle in the late 1500s, a century later.

Take a peek at the Renaissance accents that the later Maxwell added, such as the separate dwelling that now stands in place of the castle's old great hall. Look down the steps to the late 16th-century bed chamber, where servants used to reside and work.

Divide your time between exploring the neighboring Coronation Park and appreciating the elegant castle. You can catch a peek of the park's recently installed, breathtaking stainless-steel Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow sculpture by taking a short stroll west.

Sculptor John McKenna created the enormous 33-foot public artwork, popularly referred to as The Skelpies, to honor the shipbuilders in Port Glasgow and the Lower Clyde area.

Bothwell Castle

Located about 10 miles southeast of Glasgow, on a high bank above the River Clyde, sits the ochre-hued Bothwell Castle in South Lanarkshire, spanning 1.5 acres.

Why is Glasgow's Mighty Bothwell considered one of its most exquisite castles? A captivating scene is created by its striking remains set against the Clyde. The Moray family constructed the castle in the late 13th century, and soon afterward it fell under attack.

Edward I of England ordered 6,800 English men to storm the fortress in 1301, amidst the fierce Wars of Independence.

The Black Douglas family constructed Bothwell's late-medieval chapel and great hall in the fourteenth century; these structures are still standing, but the castle's round keep tower is the most striking feature.

The best way to get to Bothwell Castle these days is to stroll along the riverbank path below. The charming route is lined with blackberry-filled brambles in August.

In reality, a well-liked Highland walk follows the river's curve and passes Bothwell Castle straight. The showpiece of the 40-mile Clyde Walkway is Bothwell Castle. It runs from New Lanark in the south to Patrick in Glasgow in the north.

Dumbarton Castle

Located atop the 240-foot Rock of the Clyde, which was built approximately 340 million years ago, Dumbarton Castle is one of the best places to take in the beautiful views of the River Clyde estuary.

This lofty location has housed Iron Age settlements, a Dark Ages citadel, and the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde's capital.

Alexander II of Scotland constructed the original version of the castle in the early 1200s as a defensive stronghold that towered over the town of Dumbarton at the confluence of the Clyde and Leven rivers.

This is where Sir John Menteith caught William Wallace in 1305, and he was brought here in 1305 to be tried and killed for treason by the English. Mary, Queen of Scots later sailed from Dumbarton Castle, where she had been staying, when she departed Scotland for France in 1548.

Although there aren't many surviving parts of the ancient castle, there are several defensive structures, the graceful Governor's House from the 18th century, and an appealing guard house from the 16th century. White Tower Crag is another place you can go; it's 500 steps up.

It's not for the timid to climb the tower. The views are worth every step, though, since they stretch all the way to Loch Lomond.

Edinburgh Castle

Spreading across Castle Rock, the powerful Edinburgh Castle is one of the most well-known in the world, providing visitors with an amazing opportunity to learn about real-life history.

Edinburgh Castle is situated on the site of a medieval fortification that stood here long before the oldest portion of the current construction was erected in the 12th century, similar to many other Scottish castles.

To start exploring Edinburgh Castle's maze of walls, gates, monuments, rooms, and museums, enter via Castlehill. Proceed beneath the spiky Portcullis Gate and ascend the seventy Lang Stairs stairs.

View stunning Edinburgh and the Forth Bridge from the battlements of the castle. Stay for the One O'Clock Gun Salute, which is fired from Mills Mount Battery every day of the year (except on Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday).

Enter St. Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh's oldest building, and the Royal Apartments in the Royal Palace, where Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth to James VI.

Built in 1511, Edinburgh Castle's Great Hall is one of its highlights. One of Scotland's largest rooms, the Great Hall is situated in Crown Square and has a striking timber roof and crimson walls.

Oliver Cromwell converted the Great Hall into a military barracks after seizing the castle in 1650. These days, the opulence of this amazing chamber is enhanced with silver sets of armor and military weaponry hanging from enormous chandeliers.

Don't leave the castle without taking in the Crown Jewels in the Crown Room—the oldest in the British Isles. Included in the collection are artifacts from Mary, Queen of Scots' coronation and the Stone of Destiny, which has been used for generations to appoint Scottish kings.

Finally, have a glass of the smooth single-malt Edinburgh Castle Whisky at the Scotch Whisky Experience, located right outside this magnificent castle on the Royal Mile.

Scotland is a magnificent country with lochs of blue water, untamed heathery hills, and a landscape dotted with ancient castles. Take a look at the Glasgow cruises offered by Celebrity Cruises to discover more about this beautiful nation.

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