5 Easily Accessed Castles

Scotland boasts over 3,000 castles (that’s including ruins and literal rocks in some spots 😂) and we’ve visited i’d say close to…50? The point is that we’ve visited quite a few and have some decent knowledge on which ones are a pain in the ass to get to and which ones are a lot more accessible.

You may or may not know this, but I’m actually super lazy. Sure i’ve climbed a munro and go for an occasional walk, but if I can get somewhere by car rather than walking I’m a happy gal 😂 So if you’re an occasional lazy traveller just like me, without further adieu, here’s a list of easy castles you can reach with minimum (walking) effort*

*Read, there may be potholed roads, ferries and classic Scottish weather en route

1. Blackness Castle

For all my Outlander fans, quite a few scenes were filmed at this castle! It’s only a couple of hours of out Edinburgh and you need to pay to get in - but it’s worth the entry fee! One of the most well kept and maintained castles we’ve been to.

2. MIDHOPE CASTLE

Continuing on with our Outlander obsession, you may recognise Midhope Castle as Lallybroch, Jamies family home.
This castle is very easy to reach and only 30 minutes out of Edinburgh. It’s currently abandoned, but word on the street is it’s been purchased to be turned into a distillery.

3. SLAINS CASTLE

This castle has had quite an intriguing history and is perched on the side of a cliff above the water (un sign posted, classic Scotland) so be careful where you walk when you’re here!
Most famously known as the inspiration for Bram Stoker when writing Dracula, it definitely has an eerie and imposing vibe when visiting.

4. Ardvreck castle

One of my most favorite ruins I’ve ever visited, Ardvreck Castle is very easily accessed on the NC500 (granted it hasn’t been raining too heavily! ) we were in ankle deep water to get across to the actual ruin, but when the sun began to set in the early afternoon (the joys of winter travelling!) the golden light across the loch and the ruins was absolutely spectacular!

5. Dunnottar Castle

You’ll probably recognise this castle as it’s one of Scotlands most famous ones. Dunnottar Castle is just ourside of Aberdeen and even has its own car park. Entry into this castle is paid (and you’ll need to climb some stairs to get there!) but the view you can see in this image is very easy to access!
It’s a crowd favorite for a reason and definitely worth a visit.

Stay tuned for part two where we’ll share another 5 easily accessible castles for my fellow lazy travellers!
Remember to respect these structures, don’t climb them, litter or leave any trace - keep Scotland beautiful.

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