Four castles tour

Four ancient Scottish castles feature in this tour – Drummond Castle and Gardens , Blackness Castle , Doune Castle and Stirling Castle

1 Drummond Castle and Gardens

Drummond Castle and Gardens – the grounds, which date back to 1630, are considered “the best example of formal terraced gardens in Scotland”. The castle was used as the Palace of Versailles in an episode of TV drama Outlander.

Drummond Castle Gardens, which are protected as a category A listed building — in contrast to the B listed castle – attract thousands of visitors per year, and are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.The gardens — complete with peacocks — feature ancient yew hedges and the remaining beech tree planted by Queen Victoria in 1842.But the grounds — which also featured in 1995 feature film Rob Roy, starring Liam Neeson — could now see a huge boost in tourist numbers thanks to the so-called “Outlander effect”.

2 Doune Castle

Originally dating to the 13th Century, Doune Castle near Stirling was a favourite place for Mary Queen of Scots .

Doune Castle has five claims to movie fame –

• Outlander – Doune was Castle Leoch , and it also features in the 20th century episode when Claire and Frank Randall visit the castle on a day trip.
• Game of Thrones . Doune represented the castle Winterfell in Game of Thrones.
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail
• Outlaw King
• Mary Queen of Scots

Once a Royal residence, Doune Castle was rebuilt by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany in the late 14th Century.

3 Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most impressive castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture.

From Stirling Castle’s ramparts, visitors can take in views of the Forth Valley and Ben Lomond , as well as one of Scotland’s most important battle sites –  Bannockburn (1314) where Robert the Bruce defeated a much larger English army . The castle is at the head of Stirling’s historic old town. Like Edinburgh Castle , Stirling sits on a volcanic rock dominating the city skyline .

Stirling Castle is not only one of Scotland’s grandest and most imposing castles, it was also a real favourite with Scotland’s kings and queens as it represented a statement of their power and wealth.  Stirling was built by the Stewart kings of Scotland .Mary Queen of Scots lived in the castle as a child before her mother sent her to France for her safe keeping . James IV created the Great Hall, the largest medieval banqueting hall ever built in Scotland, and James V’s Royal Palace, with its lavishly decorated Renaissance façades, was a masterpiece of the period.

Major conservation work has been carried out at Stirling Castle over many years to preserve the attraction as a major national and international monument. The refurbishment of the Great Hall was completed 11 years ago . A particular feature of the Great Hall is stained glass windows featuring clan crests . A number of banquets and concerts are held in the Hall throughout the year .

4  Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle was built in 1440 by Sir George Crichton . At this time, Blackness was the main port serving the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, one of the main residences of the Scottish monarch.In 1453 King James II annexed the castle due to a dispute with Crichton, and the castle has been crown property ever since.

In 1650 Oliver Cromwell took the castle when he invaded Scotland .

The castle was used as a state prison, holding Cardinal Beaton and the 6th Earl of Angus

Blackness Castle has three claims to movie fame –

• Outlander – Blackness Castle was Fort William  , where Jamie was whipped by Black Jack Randall
• Outlaw King
• Mary Queen of Scots

The Outlaw King tells the story of how Robert the Bruce, who defied England’s King Edward I, became a hunted fugitive but turned the tables to inflict crushing defeat on the English army at Bannockburn and ultimately won Scottish independence. Film tourism is booming in Scotland, with Outlaw King and Mary Queen of Scots some of the exciting new films set to feature the country on screen. Film and TV productions not only showcase the unique mix of stunning landscapes, rich heritage and fascinating stories Scotland offers, but can inspire set-jetting fans to visit, with research showing that one in five visitors come here after seeing Scotland on the big and small screen.

Each castle has its own unique character and history . Book your four Scottish castles tour now online or by phone / Whatsapp on +447305-294773 .