Historic Houses in Scotland
Historic Houses in Scotland, such as Abbotsford and Blair Castle are listed below. The regions of Scotland have through the centuries maintained their differences, the Highlanders, largely Gaelic speaking were mobile cattle farmers, while the Lowlanders, English speaking, were firmly planted arable farmers. The Lowlands is the most densely populated region, an area of impressive castles, palaces, medieval burghs and by the two impressive cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Highlands are characterised by the mountainous scenery, beautiful coastlines and a myriad of interesting islands.
Abbotsford
Melrose, Scottish Borders
The garden and landscape of Abbotsford are the creation of Sir Walter Scott, and were developed from scratch between 1811 and 1825. The landscape composition is outstanding in... more
Blair Castle
Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Perth & Kinross
Blair Castle has been the ancient home and fortress of the Earls and Dukes of Atholl for over 725 years. Some 30 rooms of infinite variety display beautiful furniture, fine collections... more
Blairquhan Castle
Maybole, Ayrshire
Blairquhan Castle was built for Sir David Hunter Blair, 3rd Baronet in 1821-24 by William Burn. A short walk from the castle is a walled garden which was laid out in the 1800s. The... more
Bowhill House & Country Estate
Bowhill, Selkirk, Scottish Borders
Bowhill House is the Scottish Borders home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, dating from 1812, set in magnificent scenery. Outstanding collections of art, silverware, porcelain and... more
Brodick Castle
Brodick, Isle of Arran, Ayrshire
Brodick Castle, the site of this ancient seat of the Dukes of Hamilton which was a fortress even in Viking times. The 13th century fortified tower was developed in the 16th century and... more
Brodie Castle
Brodie Castle, Brodie, Forres, Moray
Brodie Castle is a fine 16th century Z-plan tower house set in peaceful parkland, was the home of the Brodie family until the late 20th century. Additions were made to the building in... more
Broughton House & Garden
12 High Street, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway
Broughton House is an 18th century town house of the Murrays of Broughton and Cally. Bought in 1901 by E A Hornel, renowned artist, and became his home and studio. The House still... more
Callendar House
Callendar Estate, Falkirk
Situated amidst magnificent park and woodland,Callendar House tells stories spanning 600 years of Scottish history. Through wars, rebellions and the industrial revolution, the house... more
Castle Fraser
Sauchen, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
Castle Fraser, the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland, was built between 1575 and 1636 by the 6th laird, Michael Fraser. One of the towers is seven stories high. The castle... more
The Castle & Gardens of Mey
Mey, Thurso, Highland
The Castle of Mey, built in the 1560s, was bought by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1952. So began The Queen Mother´s love affair with The Castle & Gardens of Mey,... more
Cawdor Castle
Nairn, Highland
Cawdor Castle, the most romantic Castle in the Highlands, has a magical name linked with Macbeth by Shakespeare. It was built in the 14th century as a private fortress by the Thanes of... more
Crathes Castle
Banchory, Aberdeenshire
Crathes Castle, built in the 16th century, is an excellent example of an L-tower house of the period with four stories and an attic. King Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Leys to... more
Culzean Castle & Country Park
Maybole, Ayrshire
Culzean Castle, converted by Robert Adam from a fortified tower house into an elegant residence for David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis, between 1777 and 1792. It is on a cliff... more
Dalmeny House
South Queensferry, West Lothian
Dalmeny House, one of the first Tudor-revival houses to be built in Scotland, has been the family home of the Earls of Rosebury for over 300 years. It houses part of the Rothschild... more
Drum Castle
Drumoak, Banchory, Aberdeenshire
The keep at Drum Castle is one of the three oldest tower houses surviving in Scotland. The original house was enlarged with the creation of a very fine Jacobean mansion in 1619 and a... more
Drumlanrig Castle, Gardens & Country Park
Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway
Drumlanrig Castle, the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KT, was built between 1679 and 1691 by William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry. Local pink sandstone... more
Dunrobin Castle & Museum
Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, Highland
Dating from the 13th century, Dunrobin is the most northerly and largest of Scottish houses, with 189 rooms. It has been continuously lived in since the early 1300s. The house was... more
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, Highland
Any visit to the Isle of Skye would be incomplete without savouring the wealth of history offered by Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and... more
Edinburgh Castle
Castlehill, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle is famous worldwide as an icon of Scotland. Once the home of kings and queens it is now the country´s premier visitor attraction. It boasts a magnificent Great Hall,... more
Falkland Palace
Cupar, Falkland, Fife
The Royal Palace of Falkland, the country residence of Stuart kings and queens, was built between 1450 and 1541. Part of the palace was burned down by Cromwell´s troops in 1654. The... more
Floors Castle
Roxburghe Estates Office, Kelso, Scottish Borders
Floors Castle, the largest inhabited castle in Scotland, is home to the Duke of Roxburghe. Designed and built by William Adam, it was begun in 1721 and transformed by Playfair in 1849... more
Fyvie Castle
Fyvie, Turriff, Aberdeenshire
Fyvie Castle was once a royal stronghold, one of a chain of fortresses throughout medieval Scotland. The five towers are traditionally associated with the five successive families that... more
The Georgian House
7 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
The Georgian House is part of Robert Adam´s masterpiece of urban design, Charlotte Square. It dates from 1796, when those who could afford it began to escape the cramped, squalid... more
Glamis Castle
Glamis, Angus
Glamis Castle has been the family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and a royal residence, since 1372. It was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the late Queen Mother... more
Haddo House
Methlick, Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Haddo House was designed by William Adam for the 2nd Earl of Aberdeen in 1732, but refurbished in the 1880s. The House elegantly blends crisp Georgian architecture with sumptuous late... more
The Hill House
Upper Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh, Argyll & Bute
The Hill House is one of the finest of Charles Rennie Mackintosh´s domestic creations, sitting high above the Clyde commanding fine views of the river estuary. It was commissioned in... more
Hill of Tarvit Mansion House
Cupar, Fife
Hill of Tarvit Mansion House, originally the site of the 17th century Wemyss Hall, was completely remodelled by Robert Lorimer for Frederick Sharp, in 1906. All the rooms have been... more
Hopetoun House
South Queensferry, West Lothian
Hopetoun House `Scotland´s Finest Stately Home´ is situated 12 miles from the centre of Edinburgh and is a splendid example of the work of Scottish architects Sir William Bruce and... more
House of Dun & Montrose Basin Nature Reserve
Montrose, Angus
House of Dun is a Georgian house, overlooking the Montrose Basin, designed and built by William Adam in 1730 for David Erskine, Lord Dun. The superb plasterwork is by Joseph Enzer.... more
House of the Binns
Linlithgow, West Lothian
The House of the Binns is the historic home of the Dalyells family, among them General Tam Dalyell who raised the Royal Scots Greys here in 1681. Four of the main rooms have important... more
Inveraray Castle
Argyll Estates Office, Cherry Park, Inveraray, Argyll & Bute
Inveraray Castle was erected between 1745 and 1785 to replace an earlier traditional fortified keep. It was designed by Roger Morris and decorated by Robert Mylne. On display are the... more
Kelburn Castle
Fairlie, Largs, Ayrshire
Kelburn Castle is the home of the Earls of Glasgow, probably the oldest castle in Scotland to have been continuously inhabited by the same family. The Boyle family, originally de... more
Kellie Castle
Pittenweem, Anstruther, Fife
The first records of Kellie Castle date back to the 12th century, and it was restored by James Lorimer in the late 19th century. It is a very fine example of Scottish domestic... more
Lennoxlove
Haddington, East Lothian
Lennoxlove House, dating from the 14th century and home of the Duke of Hamilton is set in 460 acres. Located in East Lothian just 20 miles east of Edinburgh, accommodation in the House... more
Manderston
Duns, Scottish Borders
Originally built in 1790s, Manderston was completely rebuilt in the early 1900s by John Kinross, for Sir James Miller. No expense was spared and no detail overlooked. The furniture is... more
Mellerstain House
Gordon, Scottish Borders
Mellerstain House is a Georgian house which was begun in 1725 by William Adam and completed several years later by his son Robert, and it is the home of the Earl and Countess of... more
Mount Stuart
Isle of Bute, Argyll & Bute
Mount Stuart features magnificent Victorian Gothic architecture and design together with contemporary craftmanship. Surrounded by 300 acres of glorously maintained grounds and gardens.... more
Paxton House, Gallery and Country Park
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Scottish Borders
Paxton House is one of the finest 18th century Palladian country houses in Britain, built to the design of John Adam with a Regency extension by Robert Reid. The twelve period rooms... more
Pollok House
2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, Glasgow City
Pollok House is set in the grounds of Pollok Park, home to the Maxwell family for over 600 years. The present house, (c.1750) replaced three earlier structures and was extended in 1890.... more
Provost Skene´s House
Guestrow, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Dating from 1545, Provost Skene´s House now houses an attractive series of period room settings, recalling the elegant furnishings of earlier times. Visitors can see an intriguing... more
Royal Burgh of Culross
Culross, Fife
Culross Palace was built for Sir George Bruce between 1597 and 1611 and has original interiors with painted woodwork. On display are 17th and 18th century furniture, decorative items... more
Scone Palace
Perth, Perth & Kinross
Built on the site of an ancient abbey, Scone Palace is now the family home of the Earls of Mansfield. It was the centre of the ancient Celtic Church and the crowning place of kings,... more
Thirlestane Castle
Lauder, Scottish Borders
Thirlestane Castle is one of the oldest and finest castles in Scotland and holds a uniquely important place in Scottish History. The castle has its origins in the 13th century. It was... more
Torosay Castle
Craignure, Isle of Mull, Argyll & Bute
Torosay Castle was completed in 1858 by the eminent architect David Bryce in the Scottish baronial style. On display in the house are family portraits and antiques in an informal and... more
Traquair House
Innerleithen, Scottish Borders
Traquair House, originally a castle owned by the Kings of Scotland, later became the home of the Earls of Traquair whose descendants still live there. It is where Alexander I signed a... more















































