Urquhart Castle

The next position on the list of the best castles in Scotland to visit is Urquhart Castle. In the Scottish Highlands, close to Loch Ness, lies a ruin known as Urquhart Castle.

The castle is one of the biggest in Scotland and is located on a cliff with a view of Loch Ness. It was protected by a drawbridge and a ditch and was accessed from the west. The castle's structures were arranged around two large enclosures on the water. The majority of the more substantial buildings, including the gatehouse and the five-story Grant Tower at the north end of the castle, are located in the northern enclosure, also known as the Nether Bailey.

Although they were constructed on the site of an early medieval stronghold, the current ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Urquhart, which was established in the 13th century, participated in the 14th-century Wars of Scottish Independence. The MacDonald Earls of Ross often invaded the castle while it was being held as a royal residence. Although the Clan Grant received the castle in 1509, hostilities with the MacDonalds persisted.

Location: Near Drumnadrochit, Highland, Scotland