Historical homes in Scotland

This isn’t just a museum, it’s a place to get lost in. The reconstructed crannog on Loch Tay is part of a wider centre exploring how people once lived, built, cooked and survived. Workshops are properly hands-on and the storytelling is spot on, curious, detailed and relatable. Staff know their stuff and make it feel alive. Everything is built from the ground up with care and research. The cafe is small, friendly and well priced, and the view across the loch is a reason to linger.

Built in 1360 and abandoned in 1829 after the 10th Earl of Kellie died with no direct heirs, this castle was destined for ruin and by 1860 the great hall was being used as a barn. However, the castle’s fate was to change when a family from Edinburgh holidaying in the area came across Kellie and decided to take on the challenge of renovation and secured a 38-year lease. The family was a famous architectural and arts family called the Lorimers, who reinstated the castle to its glory, displaying some of the oldest plaster ceilings in Scotland. The walled garden and woodland walks provide for some lovely fresh air, and the tearoom is a great wee place to rest the legs.

It’s all happening at Skaill House in Orkney. This 17th-century mansion has been carefully restored and is now open to the public. Boasting its own gin, self-catering stays, live music sessions and loads of history to explore, there’s something for everyone. If you buy a ticket for Skara Brae, you can also enter here with the same ticket, so there’s really very little to lose.

Dunrobin Castle has 189 rooms and looks more at home in a fairy-tale book than it does in the Scottish Highlands. It has been home to the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland since the 13th century and has undergone many transformations since. The most distinctive being the 1845 Charles Barry renovation that was very much French château in inspiration. With grand rounded spires and formal gardens. Despite how impressive and luxurious this castle is, it is somewhat controversial. The Sutherlands were responsible for some of the most brutal acts of the Highland Clearances, and the upgrading of the castle is remembered to be made possible by the wealth earned by clearing the Gaelic Highlanders off their land. Whatever your persuasion, it is still an interesting castle to visit and learn from.

Smailholm is a tall skinny tower house that sits alone at the top of a rocky outcrop, surveying the surrounding landscape. It stands at 20 metres tall and has walls two metres thick, that were essential to defence in this constantly contested land near the border. Sir Walter Scott was sent to this place as a sickly young child for the good of his health, where he was looked after by his grandmother  and aunt. They used to read him stories about the Borders’ countryside and he later described the impact that it had on him and his imagination. He had one last poignant visit here before his death in 1832 and is buried in Dryburgh Abbey not far away.

This seven-storey tower house started in 1576 and finished around 1626 is a picture-perfect fairy-tale castle, and said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle. The pink walls stand out against the charming woodland, in which there are great walks to enjoy and take in the peace of the countryside.