Places to visit

Unst, Shetland

Muness Castle image © Copyright Colin Park licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

This is the third largest island in Shetland covering an area of about 46 square miles and the northern most inhabited one. The island has two nature reserves, Hermaness and Keen of Hamar. The history of Unst goes back to at least Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages and into Pictish and Norse times. Ferry services link Belmont in the south of Unst to Gutcher in Yell and Hamars Ness in Fetlar.

Fetlar

Fetlar-Shetland image courtesy NorthLink Ferries

This is an island east from Yell and covers an area of about sixteen square miles. A wall known as the Funzie Girt or Finnigirt Dyke runs across the island from north to south, with the northern section being the most complete and is thought to date from Mesolithic or Neolithic times. The island has been inhabited at least since the Neolithic period and through into Pictish and Norse times until the present day. The ferry to Fetlar goes from Gutcher in Yell to Hamars Ness in Fetlar, sometimes via Unst. Petrol for motor vehicles needs to be obtained before arrival at Fetlar.

Yell

Breakton Beach in Yell Shetland and courtesy of NorthLink Ferries.

This is an island in the north isles of Shetland that is about 82 square miles and second largest of the Shetland isles. A car-ferry service sails from Toft ferry port on northeast Mainland to Ulsta a village on the southwest of Yell. The island has been inhabited since Neolithic times and there are several broch sites and early chapels. One such broch is Burra Ness and the seaward side of the broch wall remains standing at over twelve feet. The site is located on the northeast of Yell south of the A968 at Burra Ness.

Mainland, Shetland

Klippenküste bei Eshaness, Mainland, Shetland courtesy of ThoWi via wikimedia commons

This covers an area of about 374 square miles and is the main island in Shetland. The capital is Lerwick which has evidence of settlement going back 3000 years.

Lochindorb Castle

Lochindorb Castle image via YouTube

Lochindorb (Scottish Gaelic: Loch nan Doirb) is a freshwater loch about six and a half miles north of the town of Grantown on Spey, Moray, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Baile nan Granndach, Moireibh, Alba). On a partly manmade island on the Loch are the ruins of Lochindorb Castle, a former stronghold of the Clan Comyn. The thirteenth century castle cover very nearly the entire area of the island. It is enclosed by thick quadrilateral curtain walls, reaching nearly twenty feet in height and six feet thick. At each corner there stood round towers. Within the walls remains of a hall block, chapel and other buildings can still be identified. 

Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle

Cawdor Castle is in the parish of Cawdor, Nairnshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Caladar, Siorrachd Inbhir Narann, Alba). This is located about eleven miles east from Inverness/Inbhir Nis and five miles southwest of Nairn/Inbhir Narann and dates from the fourteenth century. Over the centuries it has continued to expand from the original keep and is now noted for it's gardens and wood. The castle is the ancestral home to the Clan Cawdor and the Dowager Countess Cawdor continues to live there. The castle and grounds are open to the public from April to October.

Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle

The remains of this thirteenth century castle stand on a headland overlooking Loch Ness and is located off the A82 southwest from Inverness/Inbhir Nis and close to the village of Drumnadrochit/Druim na Droichaid. This much fought over castle was blown up in 1692 to prevent it becoming a Jacobite stronghold. It is open all of the year and has good visitor facilities and is run by Historic Scotland.

Dunrobin Castle

Dunrobin Castle

Dunrobin Castle is in Sutherland, in the Highlands of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Cataibh, a’ Ghàidhealtachd, Alba). This is a stately home and seat of the Clan Sutherland and the Countess of Sutherland. Although the original house dates back to the early fifteenth century it has been extended over subsequent centuries and the house today is mainly that of architect Sir Charles Barry in the mid-nineteenth century. The castle and grounds are open form the 1st April to the 15th October. The museum in the grounds has a collection of Pictish symbol stones and cross slabs. The castle is located off the A9 along the east coast about five miles south of Brora/Brura towards Golspie/Goillspidh in Sutherland.

Dunnottar Castle - Dùn Fhoithear

Dunnotar Castle

Dunnottar Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Fhoithear) is about two miles south of the town of  Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Cala na Creige, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). This castle consists of eleven buildings built from the early thirteenth century. The keep is fourteenth century and other buildings added up until the seventeenth century. The ruined castle sits on the cliff top in a spectacular location south along the Coastal Path from Stonehaven Harbour. It can also be accessed via the A92 and a footpath from a nearby car park and is open daily throughout the year.

Balquane Castle

Ballaquain Castle © Copyright Greg Stringham and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence

Ballaquain Castle is located just under 3 miles west of the town of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Uraidh, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). It is a ruined tower house and was built in the 14th century and held by Leslie family from 1340. In 1526 the castle was sacked during a feud with the Forbes family and rebuilt in 1530. In 1562 Mary Queen of Scots stayed at the castle prior to the Battle of Corrichie which took place on 28 October 1562. In 1746 the property was burned by the forces of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland in 1746 and subsequently abandoned.

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