Guest Author - Susan Keeping

Scotland has some beautiful castles that are open to the public. Here are five, not in any particular order, that I think you should consider visiting the next time you are in Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle

This is one of the most dramatic castles in Scotland. Nestled high up on a hill, it towers over the city of Edinburgh. The earliest castle to appear at this site was built by David I in 1130. Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son James here. The castle features Scotland's crown jewels and is the current home of the Stone of Scone. The castle is run by Historic Scotland. It is open daily from 9:30 to 6:00 during the summer and from 9:30 to 5:00 during the winter. Admission prices are £12 for adults and £6 for children. The castle receives approximately 1.25 million visitors yearly and is the most popular tourist attraction in Scotland.

Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle is situated in Deeside. This castle is an estate that was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1848 and became the Scottish home of British royalty from then on; the current Queen Elizabeth is in residence at this castle as certain times. The castle sits on 50,000 acres and is on the grounds of Cairngorms National Park. It is open to the public from April to July. Admission is £7.00 for adults and £3.00 for children.

Glamis Castle

This has been the ancestral home of the Earls of Strathmore for over 600 years. It became well-known when Mary Queen of Scots visited here in 1562. The Queen Mother lived here as a young girl. It is also said to be haunted by the Grey Lady. The castle is open to the public from March to December from 10am to 6pm. Admission prices are £8.50 for adults and £5.30 for children.

Stirling Castle

The castle sits on a cliff overlooking the city of Stirling and surrounding districts. There was said to be a castle there as early as 1110 and Alexander I died there. The oldest current building is from 1469; Robert the Bruce had the castle destroyed in 1314 so that it would not fall into the hand of the English. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned at the castle in 1543. The castle was closed to visitors from 2009 to 2011 in order for some areas to be refurbished. The castle is run by Historic Scotland. It is open daily from 9:30 to 6:00 during the summer and 9:30 to 5:00 during the winter. Admission is £9.00 for adults and £4.50 for children.

Ravenscraig Castle

Ravenscraig is a ruined castle that is situated on the outskirts of Kirkcaldy, Fife. It was built in 1460 by James II and features two round artillery towers. There is limited access to the castle and admission is free.