At one time, Scotland was home to more than 4,000 castles. It’s an extraordinary number for such a small country and today, around 3,000 still stand. Some are world famous, others have inspired great works of literature, while others have lit up the silver screen. There are grand, ticketed visitor attractions but there are others which are unassuming structures so tucked away that only the locals seem to know about them. From the triangular-shaped Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and Galloway to the imposing New Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire, and from the magnificent fortress that dominates the Edinburgh skyline to the haunting battlements that stand on the banks of Loch Ness, each tower tells a story, every turret holds a secret and, together, they span centuries of fascinating Scottish history. A History and Guide to Scottish Castles explores the history, architecture, and legends of some of these fascinating fortresses and looks at why they are so appealing to visitors today. Sharing amazing facts and her own unique experiences, author Jenna Maxwell takes readers on an unforgettable tour of some of Scotland’s most amazing castles which, if you haven’t visited them already, you’ll soon want to. Jenna has documented her journey on her Instagram page @queenofthecastles

A compendium of 28 beautiful, historical Scottish Castles for local and visitor alike Scotland: A land with rich history, wild landscapes and some of the most beautiful castles on Earth. There have been over 2000 castles in scottish history; some have been preserved in superb condition, some lie in picturesque ruin and others have been resigned to historical records. Discover the story of the well-trodden fortress of Edinburgh Castle, uncover the beautiful remoteness of Eileen Donan and learn all about Castle Urquhart, on the banks of Loch Ness. These are the sites of feuds, the homes of royalty and the locations of great battles. This Pitkin guide takes the reader on a tour of 28 of Scotland's most magnificent castles. Revised for 2019, it makes a perfect addition to the literature for any visitor to the country.

Gazetteer of over 500 hundred surviving Scottish Castles. Discover the castles of Scotland, from early "motte and bailey" earthworks and impressive walled enclosures to the many tower houses that dot the landscape. Castles were built in increasing numbers from the 14th to the 17th century, as residences for the Scottish nobility. Some are still proudly occupied; others are well-maintained ruins; many others slowly decay in fields and farmyards. Here, Adrian Pettifer provides a brief account of every Scottish castle to survive in a reasonable state of preservation, including such iconic sites as Edinburgh, Glamis and Cawdor. Each of the more than five hundred main entries provides a brief history and description of a castle, followed by advice on accessibility, sources for further reading and cross-references to related sites. An introduction supplies the historical background, while a glossary covers all aspects of Scottish castles in some detail. Ordnance Survey references are given in the index.

Devastated by the civil wars of the 17th century or by the neglect of their owners, the majority of Scottish baronial castles built between 1250 and 1450 survive as little more than skeletal ruins. These reminders of Scotland's past have captured the imaginations of romantics, artists, writers and tourists since the late 18th century. Often set in spectacular surroundings, on cliff-tops, islands, and gorges, their ruined grandeur evokes a medieval world of sieges, banquets and murders, and provides a rare physical link with the Anglo-Scottish wars of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.

With the exception of the key royal sites, such as Stirling and Edinburgh, few Scottish castles were located at strategic points, or were intended to house garrisons required to defend or subjugate towns. Instead they were primarily fortified dwelling houses, erected in an environment of weak Royal authority and endemic feuding between rival clans and groups, in both Highland and Lowland areas. Although some enceinte castles were developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, most defensive construction focused on the tower house, a distinctive vernacular style of Scottish fortification. This book examines the design, development, and purpose of these quintessentially Scottish buildings, and also covers larger sites such as Urquhart and Blackness.

Scotland’s Castles is a beautifully illustrated celebration and account of the renaissance of Scottish castles that has taken place since 1950. Over 100 ruined and derelict buildings – from tiny towers to rambling baronial mansions – have been restored as homes, hotels and holiday lets. These restorations have mainly been carried out by new owners without any connections to the land or the family history of the buildings, which they bought as ruins. Their struggles and triumphs, including interviews and first-person accounts, form the core of the book, set in the context of the enormous social, political and economic changes of the late twentieth century.

`The definitive guide to Scottish websites.`Scotland`s New HomebuyerThis comprehensive and easy-to-use directory provides a one-stop guide to essential addresses on the Internet from a Scottish perspective. The Scottish Web Directory, offers a selection of over 10,000 official sites, top 'household names' and sites of interest to Scottish families, business users, and anyone interested in ScotlandConveniently classified by category, the directory enables both begineers and experienced users alike to find elusive web addresses with ease, saving hours of fruitless searching and surfing on the Internet.Categories include:Arts & EntertainmentBusinessChildrenEducation, Training & ResearchFood & DrinkGovernmentHobbies & LeisureLivingMuseums, Libraries & InformationPersonal FinanceShoppingSportTechnologyTravel