8 of the best castles in Scotland

Address: Aldourie Castle, The Estate Office, Loch Ness, Inverness IV2 6EL
Website: aldourie.scot

Wormistoune

Perched on the edge of Scotland’s east coast, Wormistoune is one of those properties that feels like you’re in a whole other world once safely held within its walls. Primarily a family home, you can feel the care that’s gone into every inch of the refurb with no-expense-spared elements like a cinema room and Devol kitchen.

Here, guest accommodation is in the coach house, with four bedrooms, a firelit dining hall and a kitchen that leads one way up to a snug via a spiral staircase and the other way onto a smart patio in one corner of the immaculate walled gardens.

Don’t skip a swim in the bracing north sea, a walk along the coast to Cambo’s gardens and lunch at the lobster shack at Crail.

Address: Wormiston, Anstruther KY10 3XH
Website: wormistoune.com

Mingary Castle

The fun begins before you’ve even arrived at Mingary, with beautiful stretches of wilderness to enjoy on the journey. Profiting from possibly one of the best views of any castle in Scotland, Mingary looks across the Sound of Mull from its rocky foothold on the west coast and gives off serious Outlander vibes. The building dates back to the 13th century and is the ancient seat of the Maclain clan, but has recently found a new purpose as one of Scotland’s smartest restaurants with rooms.

The wood-panelled, beautiful restaurant is headed up by Colin Nicholson, who started out under the tutelage of Albert and Michel Roux Jr. Food is staunchly seasonal, embracing the best of Scottish produce in a fine-dining, tasting menu format.

Rooms are suitably smart, with four poster beds, and exclusive use is a possibility should you have something special to celebrate.