A must for all those who want to visit Scotland's many castles. The book covers all of the coutry's famous strongholds, as well as many lesser-known places, with location, access, visitor facilities, and contact details. There is a map, many photos, a glossary of architectural terms, and a family-name index, allowing the reader to identify any castle associated with their family.
The definitive and most comprehensive collection on castles, towers, and fortified houses of Scotland, with historical accounts, visitor information, and maps.
This new edition has been called "the bible of Scottish castles." It is the only book to cover all of them -- a comprehensive reference and gazetteer to more than 2,700 castles and fortified sites. Heavily illustrated throughout with more than 300 photographs and drawings, this new edition has been completely revised, expanded, and updated, with information on 600 new sites. This is an easy-to-use alphabetical guide and gazetteer, with comprehensive listings, index of sites reputed to be haunted, a family names index, and twenty pages of maps locating every castle in Scotland. No castle enthusiast should be without this book. The culmination of ten years' research, The Castles of Scotland offers comprehensive information on the fortified buildings of Scotland, including histories, ownership, locations, facilities, and visitor access. The 2,700 sites discussed include the largest strongholds to the smallest ruins to mere sites. The history of a castle is as important as the physical remains. Some strongholds have a long and fascinating past yet no more than a vestige of their former strength survives, such as the castles at Inverness, Roxburgh, or Dunbar. Few castles can match the stark and romantic beauty of Eilean Donan Castle, or the majestic and imposing grandeur of Ballindalloch Castle or Crathes Castle, the dangerous cliffside setting of Dunnottar Castle, or the picturesque Kilchurn Castle. New for this edition: -- 670 new sites added -- historic houses and mansions open to the public now included -- improved and increased number of illustrations -- updated, corrected and more-detailed entries -- access details for the year 2001 and full list of facilities nowincluded -- 16 pages of full color photographs added to the cloth edition
With the exception of the key royal sites, such as Stirling and Edinburgh, few Scottish castles were located at strategic points, or were intended to house garrisons required to defend or subjugate towns. Instead they were primarily fortified dwelling houses, erected in an environment of weak Royal authority and endemic feuding between rival clans and groups, in both Highland and Lowland areas. Although some enceinte castles were developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, most defensive construction focused on the tower house, a distinctive vernacular style of Scottish fortification. This book examines the design, development, and purpose of these quintessentially Scottish buildings, and also covers larger sites such as Urquhart and Blackness.
A compendium of 28 beautiful, historical Scottish Castles for local and visitor alike Scotland: A land with rich history, wild landscapes and some of the most beautiful castles on Earth. There have been over 2000 castles in scottish history; some have been preserved in superb condition, some lie in picturesque ruin and others have been resigned to historical records. Discover the story of the well-trodden fortress of Edinburgh Castle, uncover the beautiful remoteness of Eileen Donan and learn all about Castle Urquhart, on the banks of Loch Ness. These are the sites of feuds, the homes of royalty and the locations of great battles. This Pitkin guide takes the reader on a tour of 28 of Scotland's most magnificent castles. Revised for 2019, it makes a perfect addition to the literature for any visitor to the country.
Gazetteer of over 500 hundred surviving Scottish Castles. Discover the castles of Scotland, from early "motte and bailey" earthworks and impressive walled enclosures to the many tower houses that dot the landscape. Castles were built in increasing numbers from the 14th to the 17th century, as residences for the Scottish nobility. Some are still proudly occupied; others are well-maintained ruins; many others slowly decay in fields and farmyards. Here, Adrian Pettifer provides a brief account of every Scottish castle to survive in a reasonable state of preservation, including such iconic sites as Edinburgh, Glamis and Cawdor. Each of the more than five hundred main entries provides a brief history and description of a castle, followed by advice on accessibility, sources for further reading and cross-references to related sites. An introduction supplies the historical background, while a glossary covers all aspects of Scottish castles in some detail. Ordnance Survey references are given in the index.
Dark dragons, ghostly bagpipers, rude goblins and sly wizards - discover the legends that dwell within the ancient castles of Scotland. This highly anticipated book is the latest volume of much-loved Scottish tale treasuries by Carnegie-award-winning children's author Theresa Breslin and Kate Greenaway Medal-longlisted artist Kate Leiper. Explore secret passages beneath Edinburgh Castle, search for the mysterious monster of Glamis, capture the faery flag of Dunvegan, joust with knights at Stirling Castle and swim with the selkie of Eilean Donan in this sumptuous collection of tales from iconic Scottish castles. Read much-cherished and little-known legends, each illuminating the character and history of its castle, all brilliantly retold and beautifully illustrated to amuse, thrill and enchant. A wonderful gift, this is a stunning book to be treasured for a lifetime, bringing history, place and story alive for children, parents and grandparents alike.
Scotland's Castles is a beautifully illustrated celebration and account of the renaissance of Scottish castles that has taken place since 1950. Over 100 ruined and derelict buildings – from tiny towers to rambling baronial mansions – have been restored as homes, hotels and holiday lets. These restorations have mainly been carried out by new owners without any connections to the land or the family history of the buildings, which they bought as ruins. Their struggles and triumphs, including interviews and first-person accounts, form the core of the book, set in the context of the enormous social, political and economic changes of the late twentieth century.
Presents original maps, plans and archive illustrations alongside hundreds of photographs, showing ruins and surviving castles in their glory. This work includes descriptions of hundreds of special buildings, from remote ruins in isolated settings to imposing piles in towns and cities.
