10 Best Castles In Scotland You Can Actually Visit From Edinburgh

Let’s be real, a trip to Scotland just wouldn’t be complete without visiting at least some of the best castles in Scotland.

And did you know that you can actually visit most of them from Edinburgh!?

These are my top 10 castles near Edinburgh Scotland that you should visit!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Why Visit Castles Near Edinburgh Scotland?

It’s not a trip to Scotland without visiting at least some castle ruins. The ruins are a huge part of Scottish history, and still a huge part of visiting Scotland today.

But even if you aren’t in to history, castle ruins in Scotland also make for a beautiful subjects to photograph!

So lucky for you, there are several castles that can be visited on a day trip from Edinburgh!

Fun fact! If you are interested in Scottish history then you’ve probably heard of Mary Queen of Scots, well you can actually follow her life through the castles in Scotland! We visited her place of birth, to where she lived, and even where she was imprisoned for 6 months!

The Best Way To Explore Castles In Scotland: The Scotland Explorer Pass

If you’ve read any of my other Scotland posts, you might know that I’m a big fan of the Scotland Explorer Pass.

The Scotland Explorer Pass gives you free entry to Historic Scotland sites (so most of the castles throughout Scotland). The pass is valid for 14 days, and go to as many castles as you want within that time.

In 14 days, we used it about 14 times for both castles and abbeys. We were always based out of Edinburgh, but you’d be able to visit even more if you aren’t.

P.S. If you’re planning on visiting Edinburgh and Stirling Castle it’s worth it on its own. Those are the two most expensive ones (about £20 each) so it’ll already pay for itself. Then all the other castle visits are like a free bonuses! See if it’s worth it for you, visually plan your Scotland itinerary with the help of my travel planner!

How To Get To Castle Ruins In Scotland From Edinburgh?

Most of the castles in Scotland are outside the city, with one exception: Edinburgh Castle.

The other castles in Scotland require a bit more planning to get to, they’re in pretty remote locations and don’t an entire day to tour.

So the easiest way to get to them is with a car, although sometimes you may be able to get away with taking the train or bus (like to Tantallon Castle).

Unfortunately, Scotland isn’t exactly the easiest country to drive in… so if you aren’t comfortable driving in a new country, there are some organized tours from Edinburgh to castles.

I’ll cover each mode of transportation below…

Renting A Car & Driving To Castles Near Edinburgh Scotland

If you’re planning on exploring Scotland castles on a day trip from Edinburgh, you’ll most likely need to rent a car and drive (we rented our car from Enterprise at Waverley Station in Edinburgh).

Driving offers the most flexibility, but it’s also the most stressful mode of transportation.

Since most of the best castles in Scotland are in remote location, it’s often easier to access them with a car (don’t even try using public transportation).

And you can more easily visit more than one location in one day, and it’s based on your schedule. You can stop at points of interest along the route, and spend as little or as long as you like at each stop.

But! the driving conditions in these remote locations also aren’t usually the best. I recommend reading my post about what it’s like to drive in Scotland before renting a car.

Not to mention, driving can be pretty exhausting!

Bus & Train To Castles Close To Edinburgh

Some of the best castles in Scotland are near other cities, so are more easily accessible by bus or train.

For example, Tantallon castle is close to North Berwick, which you can visit by train from Edinburgh.

But there aren’t many that you can access this way… And you are now tied to a schedule, also usually in a remote location where you don’t want to risk missing a bus or train…

Go On An Organized Day Trip From Edinburgh To Castles

If you want a stress free day, your best option is to go on an organized tour to see the best castles in Scotland from Edinburgh.

There are a few organized tours through Viator that will bring you to the most popular destinations from Edinburgh (which includes some castle stops!).

For example, you can visit Urquhart Castle in the highlands on this tour, along with Loch Ness and Glen Coe.

Or this tour takes you to St. Andrews where you’re free to wander the castle ruins (along with a stop at Falkland Palace).

And finally, you can easily visit Stirling Castle from Edinburgh on this tour, along with stopping at the Kelpies and Loch Lomond.

Browse more Viator for organized tours from Edinburgh.

10 Best Castles In Scotland Near Edinburgh

1. Edinburgh Castle

If you’re staying in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle is the easiest castle to visit in Scotland.

Depending on where you’re staying in the city, you’ll most likely be able to walk to it.

But, being the most convenient castle in Edinburgh comes with a downside, it’s also the most popular and busiest castle probably in all of Scotland!

The ticket price is also no small amount, it’s £19.50 (check updated prices)! Now you do get a lot for that hefty price tag, but you’ll have to decide for yourself whether it’s worth it.

Is Edinburgh Castle Worth It – My Opinion

Even though Edinburgh Castle is the most convenient to visit from Edinburgh, I also found it the least impressive.

I was a bit disappointed with the inside of Edinburgh Castle. The museums didn’t interest me, and it seemed as though there was only one part of the castle that was historical.

The main attraction inside is the Stone of Destiny, a stone that’s been used for the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland for centuries. But for the last century, it was “stolen” and has been in England up until a few years ago. I’ll give you a heads up though, it’s not much… it is just a stone after all!

If you’re interested in the history of the castle, I strongly recommend paying for a guided tour.

We went with Sandeman’s Edinburgh Castle Tour, it’s an extra £15 on top of your ticket, but it was worth it in my mind.

2. Stirling Castle – Expensive But Worth It!

Stirling Castle is HUGE!

It’s very similar to Edinburgh Castle in terms of size and price. But their similarities stop there.

If you want to save time (and money), you can choose to visit either Edinburgh or Stirling Castle based on your interests, but both are very different.

If I had to choose again, I’d choose Stirling over Edinburgh. They remade the interior of the castle to look as though it did during its peak time. Restoring old tapestries, frescos, ceilings, and decor. It was incredible.

The entire kitchen scene was even recreated, down to the bread oven and recipes!

Honestly, there’s so much to see at Stirling Castle that we didn’t have nearly as much time as I would have liked to!

Stirling Castle is included on this organized day trip from Edinburgh, along with a stop at the Kelpies and Loch Lomond.

Or a heads up if you’re driving, you have to pay for parking on top of your ticket. You might be able to find free parking on the street if you’re lucky.

3. Linlithgow Palace (An Unexpected Surprise!)

When we started planning our trip to Scotland, Linlithgow Palace was nowhere on our radar.

We only went because it was part of our Scotland Explorer Pass, it sounded interesting, and wasn’t far from the airport (it actually made the perfect half day trip from Edinburgh before we dropped my parents off at the airport for their flight home)!

We were so happy we decided to visit though, it’s one of the best castles in Scotland!

Not only was Linlithgow Palace a nice change from all the castle ruins in Scotland we had seen up to this point. Linlithgow Palace, was nice a mix of reality and imagination. It’s not as destroyed as most castle ruins, but hasn’t been completely redone, like Stirling Castle.

It’s also an integral part to the Mary Queen of Scots story, Linlithgow Palace is actually where Mary was born.

The palace itself is like an enchanting ruined maze!

Every room we walked into had (at least) 4 different directions to go in. You could continue straight, turn left, right or go down the stairs! You want to see every part of it, but it became a bit hard to keep track of where had already gone at some points.

I also loved visiting Linlithgow Palace because of where it’s located. It’s actually in a town, Linlithgow, so you aren’t in the middle of nowhere. We stopped for lunch at the Granary Cafe for soup in a mug (it’s now the White Dove Express).

The Palace is also on the edge of Linlithgow Loch which you can walk around after your visit, and capture stunning photographs of the palace.

This Outlander tour on Viator is the only tour that spends time in Linlithgow, giving you time to explore the palace.

4. Urquhart Castle Ruins In The Scottish Highlands

Urquhart Castle is the farthest castle from Edinburgh, it’s a 4 hour drive from Edinburgh all the way into the Highlands. And to top it all off, there’s probably the least amount of castle left to see.

Although it’s a bit far, it is one of the top three castles to visit in Scotland, along with Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle.

Because it’s quite a bit further though, I would recommend making it a part of a Highland adventure. We made a two-day trip to the Highlands from Edinburgh to see Urquhart Castle.

Or, if you don’t have to worry about driving 8 hours in one day, just book an organized tour instead.

There’s a lot that’s left up to your imagination at Urquhart Castle as it’s probably the most ruined out of all the castles.

Like the other two major castles to visit in Scotland, Urquhart Castle is very well done in terms of production value. Even though there’s hardly anything left to see, it’s somehow still a wonderful, and very worthwhile experience.

And to make it even better, Urquhart Castle overlooks the infamous Loch Ness. So make sure to keep your eyes peeled for any mysterious behaviour while you’re here!

5. Doune Castle Near Edinburgh

We stopped at Doune Castle on our way back from Urquhart before stopping at Stirling Castle (yup we did three castles in Scotland in one day… it was a lot!).

But, if you’re coming straight from Edinburgh, Doune Castle is about an hour drive. You can also book this day trip from Edinburgh that stops at Doune Castle (and Inveraray Castle & Gardens)!

Doune Castle is more intact than Linlithgow Palace and has a ton of connections to Outlander. And if you’re a fan of the show, then Doune Castle should be at the top of your list to visit.

In fact, included in your ticket is an audio guide with commentary from none other than Sam Heughan (the lead actor from Outlander) to describe it as a filming location for the show.

Even if you’ve never heard of Outlander, Doune Castle is still one of the best castles in Scotland near Edinburgh to visit. It’s very well intact, it has all four walls and even a ceiling (that’s more than most castles ruins in Scotland)!

But even more than that, it still has the original decor which is just incredible to see!

6. Lochleven Castle (A True Hidden Gem In Scotland!)

Lochleven Castle just might be one of the smallest castles to visit in Scotland and it was the only one we needed a boat to get to. This made it one of the most unique castles close to Edinburgh.

You don’t necessarily have to visit Lochleven Castle, but you do have to visit at least one castle that’s on an island in Scotland.

Lochleven is probably the most convenient island castle from Edinburgh, about an hour away by car from Edinburgh, and en route to the highlands, and it’s open the latest into the season!

Going to an island castle is such an experience, but you do have to plan accordingly (p.s. use my travel planner to help!).

You have to take into account the boat ride, and waiting for the boat each way.

It’s about a 10-minute boat ride to the island and they leave every 45 minutes (which also means that you have 45 minutes on the island to explore the castle before the boat comes back to pick you up!).

They only fit about 10 people on the boat at a time, so make sure to also make a reservation in advance (especially if it’s high season!).

You should also dress appropriately for a visit to Lochleven Castle…

If it’s windy (which is most likely will be), the water will be choppy, so expect to get wet on the boat ride! And depending on when you’re travelling, it also might get quite chilly on the boat.

So wear waterproof and warmer clothing!

When we arrived to the island, the ground was wet and muddy right when you got off the boat, so you might also want to leave your favourite shoes at home!

The castle itself was fun to wander around, we were the first boat ride of the day, so we were the only ones on the island (so I recommend choosing the first time slot if it’s available!).

And Mary Queen of Scots made her appearance here too, she was imprisoned for 6 months in 1567!

Just a heads up if you’re driving, there’s a parking lot at the boat pick up location for free but it’s a bit confusing to get to. We got lost a few times in the narrow town streets, and Google Maps might not have the right directions, it didn’t when I visited.

Unfortunately, because Lochleven is one of the smaller castles to visit in Scotland, there aren’t any organized tours that stop here on their route.

7. Tantallon Castle On The Seas Edge

Tantallon Castle will always hold a special place in my heart, just because the journey it took to get there.

So although you don’t technically need a car to get to Tantallon Castle from Edinburgh, I would HIGHLY recommend having one!

Tantallon Castle is just outside North Berwick (which is 30 minutes away by train – and I recommend a day trip from Edinburgh to North Berwick either way!).

If you don’t have a car, it’s not the end of the world but it will make your life a lot more difficult. Trust me, I know from first-hand experience.

If you don’t have a car, read all about how to get to Tantallon Castle from North Berwick and our mishaps we encountered along the way. There aren’t any organized tours taking you to North Berwick and Tantallon Castle from Edinburgh.

The castle itself is magnificent! Its located along a seaside cliff with gorgeous views and giving it an intense atmosphere. It’s not as ruined as Urquhart Castle, but it has been through quite a bit over the years.

Related

How To Go From North Berwick To Tantallon Castle Without A Car

8. Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle is known as the ship that never sailed. The castle sits directly on the Firth of Forth, and it actually looks like a ship (but I don’t know if that was intentional!).

We stopped here on our route to St. Andrews from Edinburgh, it’s about a 40-minute drive from the city. It’s actually in Linlithgow, so you might also be able to combine it with visiting one of the best castles in Scotland, Linlithgow Palace. 

I won’t lie, we stopped at Blackness Castle because it looked cool, and it had connections to Outlander (in facts it’s a part of this Outlander tour from Edinburgh), it’s where Fort Williams was filmed (where Jamie was almost hung).

But Blackness Castle ended up drawing us in even further with its views and rich history. It’s a 15th-century castle that was possibly built on another castle from the 1440s!

9. Aberdour Castle & Gardens

Aberdour Castle is definitely one of the most unique castles near Edinburgh Scotland. It’s also only a 40 minute drive from the city, across the Firth of Forth.

And it’s another hidden gem that we found out only because of our Scotland Explorer Pass.

Aberdour Castle in Scotland not the largest, it’s not the smallest, but it just as well might be the oldest.

Also Aberdour Castle also your typical looking castle at all. It’s more like a big… ruined… home, with several sections to it.

You can see what a castle looks like over time, as Aberdour Castle was destroyed and built up again over the centuries. In fact, you can easily see three distinct time frames throughout history at Aberdour Castle.

The oldest, most ruined part of the castle dates back to the 1100s, versus the newest addition is as late as the 1600s. During these centuries, it served three noble families (including the Douglas family).

And p.s., it was also used as a filming location for Outlander, surprise surprise.

10. St. Andrews Castle

St. Andrews Castle a bit farther from Edinburgh, about an hour and a half drive away, but nothing you still can’t do in one day. And if you’re driving from Edinburgh to St. Andrews, there are quite a few additional stops you can make along the way.

The downside to visiting St. Andrews Castle from Edinburgh by car is that there’s no designated parking lot for the castle. So you’re going to have to find street parking here… and it isn’t easy.

So if you prefer, go on an organized tour instead, this tour takes you to St. Andrews as well as Falkland Palace and more!

Similar to other castle ruins in Scotland located on the sea, the views are spectacular.

But, St. Andrews Castle has something that no other castle does – an underground tunnel. These were dug in the 1500s and you can actually “walk” through them (more like crouch you’re way through them)! Although, if you’re claustrophobic, I wouldn’t recommend it!

Related

Edinburgh to St. Andrews: The Ultimate One Day Road Trip

Need A Place To Stay In Edinburgh?

I stayed at an Airbnb for a month in Edinburgh just across from The Meadows. For shorter stays, I found these accommodations to stay at for every type of traveller.

Best Location & Price: Just down the street from the Royal Mile Motel One Edinburgh – Royal is a short walk to all the main attractions. See room rates & availability.

Modern & New Apartment: Stay in Edinburgh’s New Town at Golden Thistle Apartment to live like a local. It’s offers a beautifully renovated modern apartment with cafes and bars at your fingertips! See room rates & availability on Plum Guide.

Luxury: The Balmoral Hotel is Edinburgh’s finest hotel but nothing compares to it. J.K. even stayed here to finish writing the Harry Potter Series. Maybe you’ll get lucky and stay in the same suite! See room rates & availability.

See other accommodations on Booking.com in Edinburgh, or more apartments on Plum Guide.

Shop My Scotland Day Trip Amazon Must-Haves

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