Scottish castles and towers Craigievar Castle Aberdour Castle

Scottish castles and towers Craigievar Castle,

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 11 th 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 15 th 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

Alloa Tower, Stirling • Begun in the 15 th 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.

Castle, Helensburgh, • The tower was used up to the Argyll early 1990 s 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 1400 s 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 14 th 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.

Bibliogaphy : • http: //www. rampantscotland. com/castles/blcastles_ind ex. htm