Scottish castles and towers Craigievar Castle, Aberdeenshire

Aberdour Castle, Fife Construction of the castle started around 1200 Although originally built as a defensive tower house, it was enlarged over the centuries and became a comfortable manor house with extensive formal walled and terraced gardens.

Abernethy Round Tower This ancient slim Irish Celtic round tower (one of only two to survive in Scotland) was probably built towards the end of the 11th century. The tower is 74 feet high and was used both as a watch tower and as a shelter for the monks from the local monastery. At the foot of the tower is a broken Pictish symbol stone. Abernethy had been an important centre of the Pictish kingdom for a long time and the seat of a Celtic bishopric long before Malcolm.

Ackergill Tower, Caithness Dating back to 1476, Ackergill was a Keith stronghold In 1988, after a much loved restoration, the castle opened its doors once again and is now the premier letting property in the whole of Scotland.

Airth Castle, Stirling The present castle here incorporates a 15th century tower, The castle is now a hotel.

Airthrey Castle, Stirling During and after the Second World War it became a maternity hospital (the first dedicated facility in the Stirling area). Then in 1967, the estate became the site of Stirling University.

Alloa Tower, Stirling Begun in the 15th century as a keep, Alloa Tower rises to four storeys plus a garret. The very thick walls enclose a vaulted basement, a hall on the first floor and another vaulted area on the second floor. The top floor has an unusual timber roof. In recent years Alloa Tower has been restored and is open to the public.

Ardincaple Castle, Helensburgh, Argyll The tower was used up to the early 1990s as a navigational aid by nuclear submarines returning to Faslane on the Gare Loch, further along the coast and is still used as a marker by ships in the Firth of Clyde.

Arnot Tower, Kinross A tower was built in the early 1400s though earlier fortifications may have occupied the site. The building seen today was probably built in 1507 at a time when a charter was granted making the lands a barony for the Arnot family of that ilk.

Balgonie Castle, Fife The castle consists of a 14th century tower house, rising to five storeys, with walls 2.4 metres thick. There is a large hall and a chapel and a vaulted basement.

Ballinbreich Castle, Fife It’s Positioned on the south bank of the river Tay in Fife

Balhousie Castle, Perth Balhousie Castle is in Perth, not far from the river Tay In 1962 Balhousie Castle became the regimental headquarters of the Black Watch and its regimental museum. There is a huge collection of medals, uniforms, pictures and military equipment as well as a number of audio visual presentations.

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