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St Machars Cathedral Transepts

St Machars Cathedral Transepts

The nave and towers of the Cathedral remain in use as a church, and the ruined transepts are in care. In…

Spynie Palace

Spynie Palace

Spynie Palace was the residence of the Bishops of Moray from the 14th century to 1686. The site is dominated by the massive tower built…

Tolquhon Castle

Tolquhon Castle

Tolquhon was built for the Forbes family. The early 15th century tower was enlarged between 1584 and 1589 with a large…

Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle

This splendid romantic castle, dating from the late 14th century, was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor, and remains the home of the Cawdor family to this day. The ancient edieval tower was built around the legendary holly tree. Although the house has evolved over 600 years, later additions, mainly of the 17th century, were all built in the Scottish vernacular style with slated roofs over walls and crow-stepped gables of mellow local stone. This style gives Cawdor a strong sense of unity, and the massive, severe exterior belies an intimate interior that gives the place a surprisingly personal, friendly atmosphere. Good furniture, fine portraits and pictures, interesting objects and outstanding tapestries are arranged to please the family rather than to echo fashion or impress. Memories of Shakespeare’s Macbeth give Cawdor an elusive, evocative quality that delights visitors. Gardens The flower garden also has a family feel to it, where plants are chosen out of affection rather than affectation. This is a lovely spot between spring and late summer. The walled garden has been restored with a holly maze, paradise garden, knot garden and thistle garden. The wild garden beside its stream leads into beautiful trails through spectacular mature mixed woodland, in which paths are helpfully marked and colour-coded. The Tibetan garden…

Dunvegan Castle & Gardens

Dunvegan Castle & Gardens

Any visit to the Isle of Skye is incomplete without savouring the wealth of history offered by Dunvegan Castle & Gardens. Built on a rock in an idyllic loch side setting, Dunvegan is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of MacLeod for 800 years. Today visitors can enjoy tours of an extraordinary castle and Highland estate steeped in history and clan legend, delight in the beauty of its formal gardens, take a boat trip onto Loch Dunvegan to see the seal colony (voted ‘1 of the Best UK Days Out’ by The Sunday Times Travel Magazine), stay in one of its charming estate cottages, enjoy an appetising meal at the MacLeods Table Cafe or browse in one of its four shops offering a wide choice to suit everyone. There is a wealth of activities in the area ranging from walking, fishing and sightseeing to fine local cuisine, arts and craft and camping at the estate’s Glenbrittle Campsite at the foot of the majestic Cuillin mountain range. Over time, we have given a warm Highland welcome to visitors including Sir Walter Scott, Dr Johnson and Queen Elizabeth II and we look forward to welcoming you. Gardens Dunvegan Castle’s five acres of formal gardens began life in the 18th century. In stark contrast to the barren moorland and mountains that dominate Skye’s landscape, the gardens are a hidden oasis featuring an eclectic mix of plants as you make your way through woodland glades, past shimmering pools fed by waterfalls and streams flowing down to the sea. Having experienced the Water Garden with its ornate bridges and islands replete with a rich and colourful plant variety, you can take a stroll through the elegant surroundings of the formal Round Garden featuring a Box-wood Parterre as its centrepiece. In what was formerly the castle’s vegetable garden, the Walled Garden now features a diverse range of plants and flowers that compliment the attractive features including the stone worked MacLeod Clan Parliament Seating, a water lily pond and a Larch Pergola. A considerable amount of replanting and landscaping has taken place over the last thirty years to restore the gardens to…

Castle Of Old Wick

Castle Of Old Wick

This dramatically located castle is one of the best preserved Norse castles in Scotland. The castle is a simple square keep of at least three storeys. In addition…

Fort George

Fort George

Built following the Battle of Culloden to subdue the Highlands, Fort George never saw a shot fired in anger. One of the most outstanding artillery fortifications…

Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle

One of the largest castles in Scotland, it dominates a rocky promontory on Loch Ness. Most of the existing buildings date from the 16th century.…

Bishop's & Earl's Palaces

Bishop's & Earl's Palaces

The Bishop’s Palace is a 12th century hall-house with a round tower built by Bishop Reid in 1541-48. The adjacent Earl’s Palace built in 1607 has been described as…

Blackhouse

Blackhouse

A traditional Lewis thatched house, fully furnished, complete with attached barn, byre and stockyard. A…