A Little Book of Scottish Castles

By Charles Maclean Illustrated by Sheila Maclean

Reviewed by Sharma Krauskopf and rated

There are over 1,500 castles in Scotland possibly twice that number, depending on your definition of what constitutes a castle. The castles in this little book exemplify most periods and styles of castles in Scotland from the stone castle and Byzantine influenced fortresses of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries to the impressive edifices of the sixteenth century. Inclusion was decided based on historical and architectural importance, visual appeal and with a view to providing a reasonable geographic spread. All are easily accessible and open to the public. A charming and evocative watercolour illustrates each of the 27 castles.

• Balvenie - in Dufftown, Strathyspey (Grampian Region)
• Bothwell - in Lanark (Strathclyde Region)
• Caerlaverock - near Dumfries (Dumfries & Galloway Region)
• Campbell - Dollar Clackmannanshire (Central Region)
• Cawdor - Near Nairn (Highland Region)
• Claypotts - Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Angus (Tayside Region)
• Craigmillar - Edinburgh, Midlothian (Lothian Region)
• Crathes - Banchory, Aberdeenshire (Grampian Region)
• Crichton - near Pathhead, Midlothian (Lothian Region)
• Dirleton - Dirleton, East Lothian (Lothian Region)
• Doune - Doune Stirlingshire (Central Region)
• Duart - Isle of Mull (Strathclyde Region)
• Dunnottar - Stonehaven Aberdeenshire
• Dunstaffnage - Dunbeg near Oban, Argyll (Strathclyde Region)
• Dunvegan - Isle of Skye (Highland Region)
• Edinburgh - Midlothian (Lothian and Borders Region)
• Edzell - Near Brechin, Angus (Tayside Region)
• Eilean Donan - Loch Duich, Kintail (Highland Region)
• Fraser - Kemnay, Aberdeenshire (Grampian Region)
• Dyvie - Fyvie, near Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire (Grampian Region)
• Glamis - Glamis by Forfar, Angus (Tayside Region)
• Hermitage - Newcastleton, Roxburghshire (Borders Region)
• Huntingtower - Near Perth (Tayside Region)
• Huntly - Aberdeenshire (Grampian Region)
• Tantallon - North Berwick, East Lothian (Lothian Region)
• Threave - Near Castle Douglas, Kirkcubrightshire (Dumfries and Galloway Region)
• Urquhart - Loch Ness, Inverness-shire (Highland Region)